NYT Dictionary

APPEAL

/əˈpiːl/
NounVerbap-PEALap-peal · 2 syllablesGrade 6

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

An application to a superior court or judge for a decision or order by an inferior court or judge to be reviewed and overturned.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *pel- Proto-Indo-European *pelh₂-der. Proto-Indo-European *-né-der. Proto-Italic *pelnōder. Latin pellō Latin appellāreder. Old French apelerdeverb. Old French apelder. Middle English apel /appel English appeal From Middle English apel, appel (“formal accusation brought in court; a challenge to trial by combat; an appeal to a higher court or authority; plea (for mercy, protection, etc.); pealing (of bells)”) [and other forms], from Old French apel (“a call”) (modern French appel (“a call; an appeal”)), from apeler (“to call; to call out”), from Latin appellāre (“to address as, call by name; to drive, move to; to land or put ashore”), alternative form adpellāre, from ad- (prefix meaning ‘to; towards’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd (“at; to”)) + pellere (“to drive, impel, push; to hurl, propel; to banish, expel; to eject, thrust out”) + -āre, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pelh₂- (“to approach”), from *pel- (“to beat; to drive; to push”). Doublet of appel.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

cri de coeuradjureentreatyprayerappealingnesscharmsolicitationcollectioningatheringinvoke

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 10 recorded puzzles:

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