— appealability , n. — appealable , adj. — appealer , n.
/euh peel"/ , n.
1. an earnest request for aid, support, sympathy, mercy, etc.; entreaty; petition; plea.
2. a request or reference to some person or authority for a decision, corroboration, judgment, etc.
3. Law.
a. an application or proceeding for review by a higher tribunal.
b. (in a legislative body or assembly) a formal question as to the correctness of a ruling by a presiding officer.
c. Obs. a formal charge or accusation.
4. the power or ability to attract, interest, amuse, or stimulate the mind or emotions: The game has lost its appeal.
5. Obs. a summons or challenge.
v.i.
6. to ask for aid, support, mercy, sympathy, or the like; make an earnest entreaty: The college appealed to its alumni for funds.
7. Law. to apply for review of a case or particular issue to a higher tribunal.
8. to have need of or ask for proof, a decision, corroboration, etc.
9. to be especially attractive, pleasing, interesting, or enjoyable: The red hat appeals to me.
v.t.
10. Law.
a. to apply for review of (a case) to a higher tribunal.
b. Obs. to charge with a crime before a tribunal.
11. appeal to the country , Brit. See country (def. 11).
[ 1250-1300; (v.) ME a ( p ) pelen a ( p ) peler appellare to speak to, address, equiv. to ap- AP- 1 + -pellare, iterative s. of pellere to push, beat against; (n.) ME ap ( p ) el apel, n. deriv. of ap ( p ) eler ]
Syn. 1. prayer, supplication, invocation. 2. suit, solicitation. 4. attraction. 6. request, ask. APPEAL, ENTREAT, PETITION, SUPPLICATE mean to ask for something wished for or needed. APPEAL and PETITION may concern groups and formal or public requests. ENTREAT and SUPPLICATE are usually more personal and urgent. To APPEAL is to ask earnestly for help or support, on grounds of reason, justice, common humanity, etc.: to appeal for contributions to a cause.
To PETITION is to ask by written request, by prayer, or the like, that something be granted: to petition for more playgrounds. ENTREAT suggests pleading: The captured knight entreated the king not to punish him. To SUPPLICATE is to beg humbly, usually from a superior, powerful, or stern (official) person: to supplicate that the lives of prisoners be spared.