appeal

²appeal

verb

Definition of APPEAL

transitive verb

1

: to charge with a crime : accuse

2

: to take proceedings to have (a lower court's decision) reviewed in a higher court

intransitive verb

1

: to take a lower court's decision to a higher court for review

2

: to call upon another for corroboration, vindication, or decision

3

: to make an earnest request <appealed to them for help>

4

: to arouse a sympathetic response <that idea appeals to him>

— ap·peal·abil·i·ty \-ˌpē-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— ap·peal·able \-ˈpē-lə-bəl\ adjective

— ap·peal·er noun

Examples of APPEAL

1. music that appeals to a wide variety of people
2. The government appealed for calm.
3. desperate people who are appealing for help
4. The government appealed to the people to stay calm.
5. He appealed, arguing that there was not enough evidence to convict him.
6. She lost the case and appealed the following month.
7. We plan to appeal the court's decision.
8. The ruling can be appealed within 30 days.

Origin of APPEAL

Middle English appelen to accuse, appeal, from Anglo-French apeler, literally, to call, summon, from Latin appellare, from appellere to drive to, from ad- + pellere to drive — more at felt

First Known Use: 14th century