Word: appeal Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *pel- Proto-Indo-European *pelh₂-der. Proto-Indo-European *-né-der. Proto-Italic *pelnōder. Latin pellō Latin appellāreder. Old French apelerdeverb. Old French apelder. Middle English apel /appel English appeal From Middle English apel, appel (“formal accusation brought in court; a challenge to trial by combat; an appeal to a higher court or authority; plea (for mercy, protection, etc.); pealing (of bells)”) [and other forms], from Old French apel (“a call”) (modern French appel (“a call; an appeal”)), from apeler (“to call; to call out”), from Latin appellāre (“to address as, call by name; to drive, move to; to land or put ashore”), alternative form adpellāre, from ad- (prefix meaning ‘to; towards’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd (“at; to”)) + pellere (“to drive, impel, push; to hurl, propel; to banish, expel; to eject, thrust out”) + -āre, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pelh₂- (“to approach”), from *pel- (“to beat; to drive; to push”). Doublet of appel. Pronunciation: /əˈpiːl/ 1. An application to a superior court or judge for a decision or order by an inferior court or judge to be reviewed and overturned. Labels: countable, uncountable 2. The legal document or form by which such an application is made; also, the court case in which the application is argued. Labels: countable, uncountable 3. A person's legal right to apply to court for such a review. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I have an appeal against the lower court decision. 4. An accusation or charge against someone for wrongdoing (especially treason). Labels: countable, historical, uncountable Example: Anciently an appeal lay for high treaſon. […] But it ſeems to be taken away by the ſt[atute] 1 H[enry] 4. 14. And now, if murder be made treaſon, an appeal does not lie. 5. A process which formerly might be instituted by one private person against another for some heinous crime demanding punishment for the particular injury suffered, rather than for the offence against the public; an accusation. Labels: countable, historical, uncountable Example: Ovld Iohn of Gaunt time honoured Lancaſter, / Haſt thou according to thy oath and bande / Brought hither Henrie Herford thy bolde ſonne, / Here to make good the boiſtrous late appeale, / Which then our leyſure would not let vs heare / Againſt the Duke of Norfolke, Thomas Moubray? 6. At common law, an accusation made against a felon by one of their accomplices (called an approver). Labels: countable, historical, uncountable 7. A call to a person or an authority for a decision, help, or proof; an entreaty, an invocation. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: He made an appeal for volunteers to help at the festival. Example: As for the Caſting vp of the Eyes, and Lifting vp of the Hands, it is a kinde of Appeale to the Deity; Which is the Author, by Power, and Prouidence, of Strange Wonders. 8. A call to a person or an authority for a decision, help, or proof; an entreaty, an invocation. Labels: countable, uncountable 9. A resort to some physical means; a recourse. Labels: countable, figuratively, uncountable 10. A power to attract or interest. Labels: countable, figuratively, uncountable Example: The shows’ viewer appeal is simple: they’re family-friendly, good-natured and easy to play along with. Example: It's blowing a gale and this holiday destination loses all its appeal in an instant in weather like this. 11. a use of a principle or quality for purposes of persuasion. Labels: countable, rhetoric, uncountable 12. A summons to defend one's honour in a duel, or one's innocence in a trial by combat; a challenge. Labels: countable, historical, uncountable Example: Nor ſhall the Sacred Character of the King / Be urg'd, to ſhield me from thy bold appeal.