See Also: appal(dictionary)
appal(dictionary)

appal (iou)



appal verb. Also appale; appall. Infl. -ll-. ME.
[Old French apal(l)ir, from A-5 + palir (mod. palir) PALE verb2.]
verb intrans. Grow pale, fade; become enfeebled; lose flavour. ME-M19.
verb trans. Make pale; cause to fade; weaken, impair. LME-E18.
verb trans. Dismay, terrify; horrify, scandalize. Freq. in pass. LME.
Shakespeare Macbeth A bold one that dare look on that Which might appal the devil. J. B. Priestley The waste of money appalled him, but he could not help being delighted by the dash and importance of it all. I. Murdoch I was utterly appalled that Otto could have laid hands upon his wife. S. Hill I was so appalled at the broken buildings and so little worried by the broken bodies. absol.: J. Keble Thoughts that awe but not appal.
appalling adjective dismaying, shocking; unpleasant: E19.
appallingly adverb E19.
appalment noun (rare) L16.