appeal English · revision 3922

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1297|origins=la appellāre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈpiːl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|appelen|t=to accuse, appeal]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|xno|apeler|t=to call upon, accuse]], Old French apeler,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|appellāre|t=to accost, address, appeal to, summon, name]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) an iterative of appellere “to drive to”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from ad- “to” and [[m|la|pellere|t=to beat, push, drive]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*pel-|t=to thrust, strike, drive]].^(Etymonline) It was probably a Roman extension of a nautical term for driving a ship toward a landing.^(Etymonline) The noun is from Old French apel, from the verb.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The spelling -eal comes from 16th-century spelling reform.^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[peal]], [[compel]], [[repel]] and [[pulse]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun, the taking of a case to a higher court, is from 1297 in the OED^(OED 1989) and about 1300 in Etymonline and Barnhart.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, in the same legal sense, is from the early 14th century,^(Etymonline) before 1338 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In early law the verb also meant to accuse of a heinous crime (1366) and to challenge to defend oneself by combat (about 1400).^(OED 1989) A call to an authority for a decision is from the 1620s,^(Etymonline) and in cricket a call to the umpire from 1844.^(OED 1989) An earnest request or entreaty is from 1859.^(OED 1989) “To address oneself in expectation of a sympathetic response” is from 1794,^(Etymonline) which led to the popular modern sense “to be attractive or pleasing”, attested from 1907, with ''appealing'' in this sense from 1891.^(Etymonline) The noun “attractive power” is attested by 1904.^(Etymonline) The word [[peal]] is a shortening of appeal, perhaps from the call to prayer of a bell.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1297 – noun, a legal appeal.^(OED 1989)

+ * early 14th century – verb, to appeal to a higher court.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1366 – to accuse.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1620s – a call to an authority.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1844 – in cricket.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1859 – an entreaty.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1904 – attractive power.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1907 – to be attractive.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An earnest or urgent request; an [[entreaty]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A resort to a higher authority for a decision or support.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The transfer of a case to a higher court for review, or a request for it.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The power to attract or interest: ''the appeal of city life''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make an earnest request, as for help.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To have recourse; to [[resort]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To apply to a higher court for review of a decision.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To be attractive or interesting.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[appealability]]

+ * [[appealable]]

+ * [[appealer]]

+ * [[unappealed]]

+ * [[reappeal]]

+ * [[curb appeal]]

+ * [[sex appeal]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[appellant]]

+ * [[appellate]]

+ * [[appellee]]

+ * [[appellor]]

+ * [[peal]]

+ * [[compel]]

+ * [[repel]]

+ * [[expel]]

+ * [[propel]]

+ * [[pulse]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}