appearance English · revision 3953

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1400|origins=la appārēre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /əˈpɪə.rəns/, US /əˈpɪr.əns/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|apperaunce]], an alteration under the influence of apperen “to appear” of apparaunce,^(MWU 2024) [[bor|xno|apparaunce]], Old French aparance “appearance, display, pomp”,^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from [[la-lat|apparentia]],^(NODE 1998)^(MWU 2024) from the participle of [[m|la|appārēre|t=to come in sight, make an appearance]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[appear]] and [[apparent]].^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Visible state or form; mere show”: late 14th century in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) the OED has coming into view and appearing formally in court, both about 1400.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The meaning “semblance”, the state of seeming to be, is from the early 15th century,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the action of coming into view by the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline) A coming before the public or an audience is from the 1670s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the publication of a book from 1882.^(OED 1989) ''Keeping up appearances'' is attested from 1751, and ''to save appearances'' by 1711.^(Etymonline) In Irish English an appearance was a ghost or apparition.^(Wright 1898) Johnson defined it first as “the act of coming into sight”.^(Johnson 1755)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 14th century – visible form, show.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – coming into view; appearing in court.^(OED 1989)

+ * early 15th century – semblance.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1670s – coming before the public.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1711 – ''to save appearances''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1751 – ''keeping up appearances''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of coming into sight.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The act of coming into public view, as of a performer, or formally before a court.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Outward aspect; [[look]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Something that appears; a [[phenomenon]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A superficial aspect; a [[semblance]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''Appearances'', outward indications: ''keep up appearances''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[disappearance]]

+ * [[reappearance]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[appear]]

+ * [[apparent]]

+ * [[apparition]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}