Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- the act or fact of appearing, as to the eye or mind or before the public: the unannounced appearance of dinner guests; the last appearance of Caruso in Aïda; her first appearance at a stockholders’ meeting.
- the state, condition, manner, or style in which a person or object appears; outward look or aspect: a table of antique appearance; a man of noble appearance.
- outward show or seeming; semblance: to avoid the appearance of coveting an honor.
- Law. the coming into court of either party to a suit or action.
- appearances, outward impressions, indications, or circumstances: By all appearances, he enjoyed himself.
- Philosophy. the sensory, or phenomenal, aspect of existence to an observer.
- Archaic. an apparition.
- keep up appearances, to maintain a public impression of decorum, prosperity, etc., despite reverses, unfavorable conditions, etc.: They tried to keep up appearances after losing all their money.
- make an appearance, to come; arrive: He didn’t make an appearance until after midnight.
- put in an appearance, to attend a gathering or meeting, especially for a very short time: The author put in an appearance at the cocktail party on her way to dinner.
noun
- the act or an instance of appearing, as to the eye, before the public, etc
- the outward or visible aspect of a person or thingher appearance was stunning; it has the appearance of powdered graphite
- an outward show; pretencehe gave an appearance of working hard
- (often plural) one of the outward signs or indications by which a person or thing is assessedfirst appearances are deceptive
- law
- the formal attendance in court of a party in an action
- formal notice that a party or his legal representative intends to maintain or contest the issueto enter an appearance
- philosophy
- the outward or phenomenal manifestation of things
- the world as revealed by the senses, as opposed to its real natureCompare reality (def. 4)
- keep up appearances to maintain the public impression of wellbeing or normality
- put in an appearance or make an appearance to come or attend briefly, as out of politeness
- to all appearances to the extent that can easily be judged; apparently
late 14c., “visible state or form, figure; mere show,” from Anglo-French apparaunce, Old French aparance “appearance, display, pomp” (13c.), from Latin apparentia, abstract noun from aparentem, past participle of apparere (see appear). Meaning “semblance” is recorded from early 15c.; that of “action of coming into view” is mid-15c. Phrase keep up appearances attested from 1760 (save appearances in same sense is 1711).
see keep up appearances; put in an appearance.