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. Private presence;
exhibition of the face; look; aspect; mien. "And
now am come to
see . . . It thy
appearance answer loud report." (Milton)
4. Semblance, or
apparent likeness;
outside show. Outward signs, or circumstances, fitted to create a special
impression or to
determine the
judgment as to the
nature of a
face 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)
5. The
act of appearing in a special seat, or in society, a firm, or any proceedings; a coming
till the popular in a special nature; as, a
face makes
his appearance as an historian, an actor, or an orator. "Will he
now retire, After appearance, and again prolong Our expectation?" (Milton)
6. Probability; likelihood. "There is that which hath no appearance." (Bacon)
7. The coming
into court of
either of the parties; the
being gift in court; the coming
into court of a party summoned in an action,
either by himself or by
his attorney, expressed by a formal
entry by the proper
officer to that effect; the
act or proceeding by which a party proceeded against places himself
till the court, and submits to its jurisdiction. To put in an appearance, to be gift; to appear in face. To
save appearances, to preserve a
fair outward show.
Synonym: Coming, arrival, presence, semblance, pretense, air, look, manner, mien, figure, aspect.
Origin: F. Apparence, L. Apparentia, fr. Apparere. See Appear.
Source: Websters Vocabulary