Appear
(Ap*pear") v. i. [imp. & p. p. Appeared ; p. pr. & vb. n. Appearing.] [OE. apperen, aperen,
OF. aparoir, F. apparoir, fr. L. apparre to appear + parreto come forth, to be visible; prob. from the
same root as parre to produce. Cf. Apparent, Parent, Peer, v. i.]
1. To come or be in sight; to be in view; to become visible.
And God . . . said, Let . . . the dry land appear.
Gen. i. 9.
2. To come before the public; as, a great writer appeared at that time.
3. To stand in presence of some authority, tribunal, or superior person, to answer a charge, plead a
cause, or the like; to present one's self as a party or advocate before a court, or as a person to be tried.
We must all appear before the judgment seat.
Cor. v. 10.
One ruffian escaped because no prosecutor dared to appear.
Macaulay.
4. To become visible to the apprehension of the mind; to be known as a subject of observation or comprehension,
or as a thing proved; to be obvious or manifest.
It doth not yet appear what we shall be.
1 John iii. 2.
Of their vain contest appeared no end.
Milton.
5. To seem; to have a certain semblance; to look.
They disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast.
Matt. vi. 16.
Syn. — To seem; look. See Seem.
Appear
(Ap*pear"), n. Appearance. [Obs.] J. Fletcher.
Appearance
(Ap*pear"ance) n. [F. apparence, L. apparentia, fr. apparere. See Appear.]
1. The act of appearing or coming into sight; the act of becoming visible to the eye; as, his sudden appearance
surprised me.
2. A thing seed; a phenomenon; a phase; an apparition; as, an appearance in the sky.
3. Personal presence; exhibition of the person; look; aspect; mien.
And now am come to see . . .
It thy appearance answer loud report.
Milton.
4. Semblance, or apparent likeness; external show. pl. Outward signs, or circumstances, fitted to make
a particular impression or to determine the judgment as to the character of a person or a thing, an act
or a state; as, appearances are against him.
There was upon the tabernacle, as it were, the appearance of fire.
Num. ix. 15.
For man looketh on the outward appearance.
1 Sam. xvi. 7.
Judge not according to the appearance.
John. vii. 24.
