Appear
WordNet
verb
(1) Come into sight or view
"He suddenly appeared at the wedding"
"A new star appeared on the horizon"
(2) Come into being or existence, or appear on the scene
"Then the computer came along and changed our lives"
"Homo sapiens appeared millions of years ago"
(3) Be issued or published
"Did your latest book appear yet?"
"The new Woody Allen film hasn't come out yet"
(4) Appear as a character on stage or appear in a play, etc.
"Gielgud appears briefly in this movie"
"She appeared in `Hamlet' on the London stage"
(5) Give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
"She seems to be sleeping"
"This appears to be a very difficult problem"
"This project looks fishy"
"They appeared like people who had not eaten or slept for a long time"
(6) Seem to be true, probable, or apparent
"It seems that he is very gifted"
"It appears that the weather in California is very bad"
(7) Present oneself formally, as before a (judicial) authority
"He had to appear in court last month"
"She appeared on several charges of theft"
WiktionaryText
Etymology
From , , from (French , , from , from + ).
Verb
- To come or be in sight; to be in view; to become visible.
- And God ... said, Let ... the dry land appear. --Gen. i. 9.
- To come before the public; as, a great writer appeared at that time.
- 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. -- Thomas Babington Macaulay.
- 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. -- John Milton.
- To seem; to have a certain semblance; to look.
- They disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. --Matt. vi. 16.
- He appeared quite happy with the result.
Usage notes
- Senses 4, 5. This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See Appendix:English catenative verbs