Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Sanction \Sanc"tion\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Sanctioned}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Sanctioning}.]
   To give sanction to; to ratify; to confirm; to approve.

         Would have counseled, or even sanctioned, such perilous
         experiments.                             --De Quincey.

   Syn: To ratify; confirm; authorize; countenance.

Sanction \Sanc"tion\, n. [L. sanctio, from sancire, sanctum to
   render sacred or inviolable, to fix unalterably: cf. F.
   sanction. See {Saint}.]
   1. Solemn or ceremonious ratification; an official act of a
      superior by which he ratifies and gives validity to the
      act of some other person or body; establishment or
      furtherance of anything by giving authority to it;
      confirmation; approbation.

            The strictest professors of reason have added the
            sanction of their testimony.          --I. Watts.

   2. Anything done or said to enforce the will, law, or
      authority of another; as, legal sanctions.

   Syn: Ratification; authorization; authority; countenance;
        support.

Source : WordNet®

sanction
     n 1: formal and explicit approval; "a Democrat usually gets the
          union's endorsement" [syn: {countenance}, {endorsement},
           {indorsement}, {warrant}, {imprimatur}]
     2: a mechanism of social control for enforcing a society's
        standards
     3: official permission or approval; "authority for the program
        was renewed several times" [syn: {authority}, {authorization},
         {authorisation}]
     4: the act of final authorization; "it had the sanction of the
        church"
     v 1: give sanction to; "I approve of his educational policies"
          [syn: {approve}, {O.K.}, {okay}] [ant: {disapprove}]
     2: give authority or permission to
     3: give religious sanction to, such as through on oath;
        "sanctify the marriage"