Main Entry:

ap·pear

Pronunciation:

\ə-ˈpir\

Function:

intransitive verb

Etymology:

Middle English apperen, from Anglo-French aparer, aparoir, from Latin apparēre, from ad- + parēre to show oneself

Date:

13th century

1 a: to be or come in sight <the sun appears on the horizon> b: to show up <appears promptly at eight each day>2: to come formally before an authoritative body <must appear in court today>3: to have an outward aspect : seem <appears happy enough>4: to become evident or manifest <there appears to be evidence to the contrary>5: to come into public view <first appeared on a television variety show> <the book appeared in print a few years ago>6: to come into existence <hominids appeared late in the evolutionary chain>