Etymologically
Log in

appello

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 01:42. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

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

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