adjective
- causing dismay or horror: an appalling accident; an appalling lack of manners.
verb (used with object), ap·palled, ap·pal·ling.
verb (used with object)
- to fill or overcome with horror, consternation, or fear; dismay: He was appalled by the damage from the fire. I am appalled at your mistakes.
adjective
- causing extreme dismay, horror, or revulsion
- very bad
verb -pals, -palling or -palled or US -palls, -palling or -palled
- (tr) to fill with horror; shock or dismay
1620s, present participle adjective from appall. Colloquial weakened sense of “distasteful” is attested from 1919.
also appal, early 14c., “to fade;” c.1400, “to grow pale,” from Old French apalir “become or make pale,” from a- “to” (see ad-) + palir “grow pale,” from Latin pallere (see pallor). Meaning “cause dismay or shock,” is 1530s. Related: Appalled; appalling.