appeal

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Appealed p. pr. & vb. n. Appealing. ] [ OE. appelen, apelen, to appeal, accuse, OF. appeler, fr. L. appellare to approach, address, invoke, summon, call, name; akin to appellere to drive to; ad + pellere to drive. See Pulse, and cf. Peal. ] 1. (Law) (a) To make application for the removal of (a cause) from an inferior to a superior judge or court for a rehearing or review on account of alleged injustice or illegality in the trial below. We say, the cause was appealed from an inferior court. (b) To charge with a crime; to accuse; to institute a private criminal prosecution against for some heinous crime; as, to appeal a person of felony. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To summon; to challenge. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Man to man will I appeal the Norman to the lists. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To invoke. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. (Law) To apply for the removal of a cause from an inferior to a superior judge or court for the purpose of reëxamination of for decision. Tomlins. [ 1913 Webster ]

I appeal unto Cæsar. Acts xxv. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To call upon another to decide a question controverted, to corroborate a statement, to vindicate one's rights, etc.; as, I appeal to all mankind for the truth of what is alleged. Hence: To call on one for aid; to make earnest request. [ 1913 Webster ]

I appeal to the Scriptures in the original. Horsley. [ 1913 Webster ]

They appealed to the sword. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. appel, apel, OF. apel, F. appel, fr. appeler. See Appeal, v. t. ] 1. (Law) (a) An application for the removal of a cause or suit from an inferior to a superior judge or court for reëxamination or review. (b) The mode of proceeding by which such removal is effected. (c) The right of appeal. (d) An accusation; 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 offense against the public. (e) An accusation of a felon at common law by one of his accomplices, which accomplice was then called an approver. See Approvement. Tomlins. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A summons to answer to a charge. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A call upon a person or an authority for proof or decision, in one's favor; reference to another as witness; a call for help or a favor; entreaty. [ 1913 Webster ]

A kind of appeal to the Deity, the author of wonders. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Resort to physical means; recourse. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every milder method is to be tried, before a nation makes an appeal to arms. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Capable of being appealed against; that may be removed to a higher tribunal for decision; as, the cause is appealable. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That may be accused or called to answer by appeal; as, a criminal is appealable for manslaughter. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An appellant. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who makes an appeal. [ 1913 Webster ]