Appall

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /əˈpÉ”l/

Alternative forms

• appal (occasionally in Commonwealth English)

Origin

Old French apalir ("to grow pale, make pale"); a (Latin ad) + palir ("to grow pale, to make pale"), pâle ("pale"). See pale (adj.) and compare with pall.

Full definition of appall

Verb

1. (transitive) To depress or discourage with fear; to impress with fear in such a manner that the mind shrinks, or loses its firmness; to inundate with sudden terror or horror; to dismay.The sight appalled the stoutest heart.
• Edward Hyde ClaredonThe house of peers was somewhat appalled at this alarum.
2. (transitive, obsolete) To make pale; to blanch.
• WyattThe answer that ye made to me, my dear, ...
  Hath so appalled my countenance.
3. (transitive, obsolete) To weaken; to enfeeble; to reduce.
• HollandWine, of its own nature, will not congeal and freeze, only it will lose the strength, and become appalled in extremity of cold.
4. (intransitive, obsolete) To grow faint; to become weak; to become dismayed or discouraged.
5. (intransitive, obsolete) To lose flavour or become stale.

Synonyms

• dismay, terrify, daunt, frighten, affright, scare, depress