appall

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb strike with disgust or revulsion
  2. verb fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised

Etymology

From Middle English apallen, from Old French apalir (“to grow pale, make pale”); a (Latin ad) + palir (“to grow pale, to make pale”), pâle (“pale”), from pallere. See pale (adj.) and compare with pall.

In classic literature

Synonyms

shock, offend, scandalize, scandalise, appal, outrage

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