/euh pear"/ , v.i.
1. to come into sight; become visible: A man suddenly appeared in the doorway.
2. to have the appearance of being; seem; look: to appear wise.
3. to be obvious or easily perceived; be clear or made clear by evidence: It appears to me that you are right.
4. to come or be placed before the public; be published: Her biography appeared last year.
5. to perform publicly, as in a play, dance, etc.: He appeared as the king in the play.
6. to attend or be present, esp. to arrive late or stay but a short time: He appeared at the party but left quickly.
7. to come into being; be created, invented, or developed: Speech appears in the child's first or second year.
8. Law. to come formally, esp. as a party or counsel, to a proceeding before a tribunal, authority, etc.
[ 1250-1300; ME ap ( p ) eren aper-, tonic s. of apare ( i ) r, apparoir apparere be seen, appear, equiv. to ap- AP 1 + parere be visible ]
Syn. 1. emerge, arise. 2. See seem .