appeal

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The quality of being attractive or interesting.

   The city has a special appeal for young artists.

2. 2
   verb

   To be attractive or interesting to someone.

   The idea of a beach holiday really appeals to me.

3. 3
   noun

   A serious or urgent request for help, money, or support.

   The charity launched an appeal to help flood victims.

4. 4
   verb

   To ask a higher court to change a legal decision.

   They were found guilty but appealed the verdict immediately.

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, pr…

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