Appall - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

ap·pall

Audio Help [uh-pawl] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used with object)

to fill or overcome with horror, consternation, or fear; dismay: He was appalled by the damage from the fire. I am appalled at your mistakes.

Also, appal.

[Origin: 1275–1325; ME < MF ap(p)allir to grow or make pale, equiv. to a- a-⁵ + pal(l)ir in same sense; see pale¹

]

—Synonyms horrify, daunt. See frighten.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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Appall

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ap·pall Audio Help (ə-pôl') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. ap·palled, ap·pall·ing, ap·palls
To fill with consternation or dismay. See Synonyms at dismay.

[Middle English apallen, to grow faint, from Old French apalir : a-, to (from Latin ad-; see ad-) + palir, to grow pale (from pale, pale, from Latin pallidus, from pallēre, to grow pale; see pel-¹ in Indo-European roots).]

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
appall

c.1315, from O.Fr. apalir "become or make pale," from a- "to" + palir "grow pale," from L. pallere (see pallor). Meaning of "cause dismay or shock," is 16c.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

appall
verb
1.	strike with disgust or revulsion; "The scandalous behavior of this married woman shocked her friends" [syn: shock]
2.	fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised; "I was horrified at the thought of being late for my interview"; "The news of the executions horrified us" [syn: dismay]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Appall

Ap*pall"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Appalled; p. pr. & vb. n. Appalling.] [OF. appalir to grow pale, make pale; a (L. ad) + p[^a]lir to grow pale, to make pale, p[^a]le pale. See Pale, a., and cf. Pall.]

1. To make pale; to blanch. [Obs.]

The answer that ye made to me, my dear, . . . Hath so appalled my countenance. --Wyatt.

2. To weaken; to enfeeble; to reduce; as, an old appalled wight. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Wine, of its own nature, will not congeal and freeze, only it will lose the strength, and become appalled in extremity of cold. --Holland.

3. To depress or discourage with fear; to impress with fear in such a manner that the mind shrinks, or loses its firmness; to overcome with sudden terror or horror; to dismay; as, the sight appalled the stoutest heart.

The house of peers was somewhat appalled at this alarum. --Clarendon.

Syn: To dismay; terrify; daunt; frighten; affright; scare; depress. See Dismay.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Appall

Ap*pall"\, v. i. 1. To grow faint; to become weak; to become dismayed or discouraged. [Obs.] --Gower.

2. To lose flavor or become stale. [Obs.]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Appall

Ap*pall"\, n. Terror; dismay. [Poet.] --Cowper.

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