in the civil law, the act of confirming or rendering a thing more valid and solemn, by publication, repetition, or recognition thereof. The word comes from the Greek ἀπολογεῖν, "consent, assent;" formed of ἀπό, similis, "like," and λογεῖν, λογεῖν, "to say," q. d. to say the same thing, to consent, agree.