Main Entry:

ap·pall

Variant(s):

also ap·pal \ə-ˈpȯl\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

ap·palled; ap·pall·ing

Etymology:

Middle English, from Middle French apalir, from Old French, from a- (from Latin ad-) + palir to grow pale, from Latin pallescere, inchoative of pallēre to be pale — more at fallow

Date:

14th century

intransitive verbobsolete : weaken, failtransitive verb: to overcome with consternation, shock, or dismay <we were appalled by his behavior>

synonyms see dismay