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appearance

 - 5 dictionary results

ap⋅pear⋅ance

  [uh-peer-uhns]
Use appearance in a Sentence
–noun
1. the act or fact of appearing, as to the eye or mind or before the public: the unannounced appearance of dinner guests; the last appearance of Caruso in Aïda; her first appearance at a stockholders' meeting.
2. the state, condition, manner, or style in which a person or object appears; outward look or aspect: a table of antique appearance; a man of noble appearance.
3. outward show or seeming; semblance: to avoid the appearance of coveting an honor.
4. Law. the coming into court of either party to a suit or action.
5. appearances, outward impressions, indications, or circumstances: By all appearances, he enjoyed himself.
6. Philosophy. the sensory, or phenomenal, aspect of existence to an observer.
7. Archaic. an apparition.
—Idioms
8. keep up appearances, to maintain a public impression of decorum, prosperity, etc., despite reverses, unfavorable conditions, etc.: They tried to keep up appearances after losing all their money.
9. make an appearance, to come; arrive: He didn't make an appearance until after midnight.
10. put in an appearance, to attend a gathering or meeting, esp. for a very short time: The author put in an appearance at the cocktail party on her way to dinner.
Origin:
1350–1400; appear + -ance; r. ME aparance < AF, OF < LL appārentia, neut. pl. of L appārēns apparent

Synonyms:
1. arrival, coming, advent. 2. demeanor, presence. Appearance, aspect, guise refer to the way in which something outwardly presents itself to view. Appearance refers to the outward look: the shabby appearance of his car. Aspect refers to the appearance at some particular time or in special circumstances; it often has emotional implications, either ascribed to the object itself or felt by the beholder: In the dusk the forest had a terrifying aspect. Guise suggests a misleading appearance, assumed for an occasion or a purpose: under the guise of friendship. 3. face, pretense.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To appearance
ap·pear·ance   (ə-pîr'əns)   
n.  

  1. The act or an instance of coming into sight.

  2. The act or an instance of coming into public view: The author made a rare personal appearance.

  3. Outward aspect: an untidy appearance.

  4. Something that appears; a phenomenon.

  5. A superficial aspect; a semblance: keeping up an appearance of wealth.

  6. appearances Outward indications; circumstances: a cheerful person, to all appearances.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: ap·pear·ance
Function: noun
1 : the presentation of oneself in court as a party to or as an attorney for a party to a lawsuit; also : a document filed in court by an attorney declaring his or her representation of a party to a lawsuit —see also GENERAL APPEARANCE, SPECIAL APPEARANCE
2 : outward look appearance of impropriety>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ap·pear·ance
Pronunciation: &-'pir-&n(t)s
Function: noun
1 : the action or process of becoming evident to thesenses appearance of a rash on the body>
2 : the outward or visible aspect of something appearance> —ap·pear /&-'pi(&)r/ intransitive verb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

appearance

see keep up appearances; put in an appearance.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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