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appearance definition

ap·pear·ance (-əns)

noun

  1. the act or an instance of appearing
  2. the look or outward aspect of a person or thing
  3. anything that appears; thing seen
  4. Archaic an apparition
  5. an outward show; pretense to give the appearance of being busy
  6. the way things seem to be from all appearances he's innocent

Etymology: ME aparaunce < OFr aparance < LL apparentia < apparere, appear

appearance Idioms

keep up appearances

to maintain an outward show of being proper, decorous, well-off, etc.

make an appearance

  1. to put in an appearance
  2. to appear publicly

put in an appearance

to be present for a short time, as at a party, meeting, etc.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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