n. [ L. apprecari to pray to; ad + precari to pray, prex, precis, prayer. ] Earnest prayer; devout wish. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A solemn apprecation of good success. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Praying or wishing good. [ Obs. ]“Apprecatory benedictions.” Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. appréciable. ] Capable of being appreciated or estimated; large enough to be estimated; perceptible; as, an appreciable quantity. -- Ap*pre"ci*a*bly, adv. [1913 Webster]

a. Appreciative. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To rise in value. [ See note under Rise, v. i. ] J. Morse. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Appreciated; p. pr. & vb. n. Appreciating. ] [ L. appretiatus, p. p. of appretiare to value at a price, appraise; ad + pretiare to prize, pretium price. Cf. Appraise. ] 1. To set a price or value on; to estimate justly; to value. [ 1913 Webster ]

To appreciate the motives of their enemies. Gibbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To raise the value of; to increase the market price of; -- opposed to depreciate. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Lest a sudden peace should appreciate the money. Ramsay. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To be sensible of; to distinguish. [ 1913 Webster ]

To test the power of bees to appreciate color. Lubbock. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To Appreciate, Estimate, Esteem. Estimate is an act of judgment; esteem is an act of valuing or prizing, and when applied to individuals, denotes a sentiment of moral approbation. See Estimate. Appreciate lies between the two. As compared with estimate, it supposes a union of sensibility with judgment, producing a nice and delicate perception. As compared with esteem, it denotes a valuation of things according to their appropriate and distinctive excellence, and not simply their moral worth. Thus, with reference to the former of these (delicate perception), an able writer says. “Women have a truer appreciation of character than men;” and another remarks, “It is difficult to appreciate the true force and distinctive sense of terms which we are every day using.” So, also, we speak of the difference between two things, as sometimes hardly appreciable. With reference to the latter of these (that of valuation as the result of a nice perception), we say, “It requires a peculiar cast of character to appreciate the poetry of Wordsworth;” “He who has no delicacy himself, can not appreciate it in others;” “The thought of death is salutary, because it leads us to appreciate worldly things aright.” Appreciate is much used in cases where something is in danger of being overlooked or undervalued; as when we speak of appreciating the difficulties of a subject, or the risk of an undertaking. So Lord Plunket, referring to an “ominous silence” which prevailed among the Irish peasantry, says, “If you knew how to appreciate that silence, it is more formidable than the most clamorous opposition.” In like manner, a person who asks some favor of another is apt to say, “I trust you will appreciate my motives in this request.” Here we have the key to a very frequent use of the word. It is hardly necessary to say that appreciate looks on the favorable side of things. we never speak of appreciating a man's faults, but his merits. This idea of regarding things favorably appears more fully in the word appreciative; as when we speak of an appreciative audience, or an appreciative review, meaning one that manifests a quick perception and a ready valuation of excellence. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an appreciating manner; with appreciation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. appréciation. ] 1. A just valuation or estimate of merit, worth, weight, etc.; recognition of excellence. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Accurate perception; true estimation; as, an appreciation of the difficulties before us; an appreciation of colors. [ 1913 Webster ]

His foreboding showed his appreciation of Henry's character. J. R. Green. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A rise in value; -- opposed to depreciation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having or showing a just or ready appreciation or perception; as, an appreciative audience. -- Ap*pre"ci*a*tive*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. The quality of being appreciative; quick recognition of excellence. [ 1913 Webster ]