appeal Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun earnest or urgent request
    entreaty; prayer.
    • an entreaty to stop the fighting
    • an appeal for help
    • an appeal to the public to keep calm
  2. noun attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
    charm; appealingness.
    • his smile was part of his appeal to her
  3. noun (law) a legal proceeding in which the appellant resorts to a higher court for the purpose of obtaining a review of a lower court decision and a reversal of the lower court's judgment or the granting of a new trial
    • their appeal was denied in the superior court
  4. noun request for a sum of money
    solicitation; collection; ingathering.
    • an appeal to raise money for starving children
  5. verb take a court case to a higher court for review
    • He was found guilty but appealed immediately
  6. verb request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection
    invoke.
    • appeal to somebody for help
    • Invoke God in times of trouble
  7. verb be attractive to
    attract.
    • The idea of a vacation appeals to me
    • The beautiful garden attracted many people
  8. verb challenge (a decision)
    • She appealed the verdict
  9. verb cite as an authority; resort to
    invoke.
    • He invoked the law that would save him
    • I appealed to the law of 1900
    • She invoked an ancient law

WordNet

Ap*peal" transitive verb
Etymology
OE. appelen, apelen, to appeal, accuse, OF. appeler, fr. L. appellare to approach, address, invoke, summon, call, name; akin to appellere to drive to; ad + pellere to drive. See Pulse, and cf. Peal.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Appealed present participle & verbal noun Appealing
Definitions
  1. (Law) (a) To make application for the removal of (a cause) from an inferior to a superior judge or court for a rehearing or review on account of alleged injustice or illegality in the trial below. We say, the cause was appealed from an inferior court. (b) To charge with a crime; to accuse; to institute a private criminal prosecution against for some heinous crime; as, to appeal a person of felony.
  2. To summon; to challenge. Archaic
    Man to man will I appeal the Norman to the lists. Sir W. Scott.
  3. To invoke. Obs. Milton.
Ap*peal" transitive verb
Definitions
  1. (Law) To apply for the removal of a cause from an inferior to a superior judge or court for the purpose of reëxamination of for decision. Tomlins.
    I appeal unto Cæsar. Acts xxv. 11.
  2. To call upon another to decide a question controverted, to corroborate a statement, to vindicate one's rights, etc.; as, I appeal to all mankind for the truth of what is alleged. Hence: To call on one for aid; to make earnest request.
    I appeal to the Scriptures in the original. Horsley.
    They appealed to the sword. Macaulay.
Ap*peal" noun
Etymology
OE. appel, apel, OF. apel, F. appel, fr. appeler. See Appeal, v. t.
Definitions
  1. (Law) (a) An application for the removal of a cause or suit from an inferior to a superior judge or court for reëxamination or review. (b) The mode of proceeding by which such removal is effected. (c) The right of appeal. (d) An accusation; a process which formerly might be instituted by one private person against another for some heinous crime demanding punishment for the particular injury suffered, rather than for the offense against the public. (e) An accusation of a felon at common law by one of his accomplices, which accomplice was then called an approver. See Approvement. Tomlins. Bouvier.
  2. A summons to answer to a charge. Dryden.
  3. A call upon a person or an authority for proof or decision, in one's favor; reference to another as witness; a call for help or a favor; entreaty.
    A kind of appeal to the Deity, the author of wonders. Bacon.
  4. Resort to physical means; recourse.
    Every milder method is to be tried, before a nation makes an appeal to arms. Kent.

Webster 1913