v.
Variant: also ap · pal
Pronunciation: ə - ' po ̇ l
Function: verb
Inflected Form: ap · palled ; ap · pall · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French apalir, from Old French, from a- (fr. Latin ad- ) + palir to grow pale, from Latin pallescere, inchoative of pall ē re to be pale ― more at FALLOW
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb obsolete : WEAKEN , FAIL
transitive verb : to overcome with consternation, shock, or dismay <we were appall ed by his behavior>
synonyms see DISMAY