appello

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [apˈpɛl.loː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [apˈpɛl.lo]^[1]

Forms

appellō (present infinitive appellāre, perfect active appellāvī, supine appellātum); first conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is a frequentative of appellere “to drive to”, from Latin ad- (“to, towards”) + pellō (“to push, drive”).^[2][1] The verb pellō is inherited from Proto-Italic *pelna- (“to approach”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥-n(e)-h₂- (“to approach”), cognate with Ancient Greek πίλναμαι (pílnamai, “to approach”).^[3] Lewis and Short take the meaning to have been “to go to someone in order to speak to him”, like adīre.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citation is Ennius, where someone addresses a man with “why are you playing about, you fool?”.^[2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to speak to, address or accost someone, and to appeal to someone for help.^[2] It also meant to summon, and to call by name or name.^[6][1]

It survives in Italian appellare and French appeler.^[1] Through Anglo-French apeler it gave English appeal, first in the legal sense in the early 14th century, and through the noun appellātiō English appellation.^[6]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of addressing a man.^[2][5]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus has “don't speak to me”.^[2][5]
• 220–130 BC – Pacuvius uses it of appealing to a mother.^[2][5]
• early 14th century – English appeal is recorded in law.^[6]

Meanings

Verb

1. To speak to, address, accost.^[2]
2. To appeal to, call on for help.^[2]
3. To call by name; to name.^[1][6]

Word family

• appellātiō
• appellātīvus
• appellātor
• appellatorius
• appellitō
• appulsus
• appulsiō

Related words

• pellō
• English appeal
• English appellation
• English appellate

Usage notes

A different verb Latin appellō, appellere (third conjugation, perfect appulī) meant to drive cattle to a place, to bring ships to shore, and to put in at a port.^[2]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com