sanction-v; 2 Senses

Sense Number 1: approve

Examples:
He sanctioned the outrageous jail sentence.
He did more than tolerate her actions, he sanctioned them.

Mappings:
VerbNet: allow-64
FrameNet: Permitting,Grant_permission
PropBank: sanction.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 2

Sense Number 2: give religious sanction to

Examples:
To secure the peace, he sanctioned the marriage of his aunt Constance.

Mappings:
VerbNet: judgement-33
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3