I. ə-ˈpēl noun
Etymology: Middle English appel, from Anglo-French apel, from apeler
Date: 13th century
1. : a legal proceeding by which a case is brought before a higher court for review of the decision of a lower court
2. : a criminal accusation
3.
a. : an application (as to a recognized authority) for corroboration, vindication, or decision
b. : an earnest plea : entreaty
an appeal for help
c. : an organized request for donations
the annual appeal
4. : the power of arousing a sympathetic response : attraction
movies had a great appeal for him
II. verb
Etymology: 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
Date: 14th century
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
appeal ed to them for help
4. : to arouse a sympathetic response
that idea appeal s to him
• ap·peal·abil·i·ty -ˌpē-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē noun
• ap·peal·able -ˈpē-lə-bəl adjective
• ap·peal·er noun