Appeal

/əˈpiːl/ · noun

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..

Definitions by Sense

1. An application to a superior court or judge for a decision or order by an inferior court or judge to be reviewed and overturned.
2. The legal document or form by which such an application is made; also, the court case in which the application is argued.
3. A person's legal right to apply to court for such a review.
4. An accusation or charge against someone for wrongdoing (especially treason).
5. A process which formerly might be instituted by one private person against another for some heinous crime demanding punishment for the particular injury suffered, rather than for the offence against the public; an accusation.
6. At common law, an accusation made against a felon by one of their accomplices (called an approver).
7. A call to a person or an authority for a decision, help, or proof; an entreaty, an invocation.
8. (figuratively) A resort to some physical means; a recourse.

Example Sentences

I have an appeal against the lower court decision.

Anciently an appeal lay for high treaſon. […] But it ſeems to be taken away by the ſt[atute] 1 H[enry] 4. 14. And now, if murder be made treaſon, an appeal does not lie.

Ovld Iohn of Gaunt time honoured Lancaſter, / Haſt thou according to thy oath and bande / Brought hither Henrie Herford thy bolde ſonne, / Here to make good the boiſtrous late appeale, / Which then our leyſure would not let vs heare / Againſt the Duke of Norfolke, Thomas Moubray?

He made an appeal for volunteers to help at the festival.

As for the Caſting vp of the Eyes, and Lifting vp of the Hands, it is a kinde of Appeale to the Deity; Which is the Author, by Power, and Prouidence, of Strange Wonders.

All in their Turns accuſers, and accus'd: / Babel was never half ſo much confus'd. / What one can plead, the reſt can plead as well; / For amongſt equals lies no laſt appeal, / And all confeſs themſelves are fallible.

[W]hile they received the doctrine of the Trinity as an infinite mystery, far above their reason, they contended against that of transubstantiation as capable of being tried by human faculties, and as contradicted by an appeal to them.

[W]hen she lifted up / A face of sad appeal, and spake and said, / 'O Merlin, do you love me?' and again, / 'O Merlin, do you love me?' and once more, / 'Great Master, do you love me?' he was mute.

Synonyms for appeal

Antonyms for appeal

Related Words

Word Forms

• appeals
• appeale
• appeall
• appealing
• appealed

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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