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appall — to shock or dismay someone greatly

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to shock or dismay someone greatly

Pronunciation (IPA): /əˈpɔːl/

Example Sentences

  • The amount of food waste at the buffet appalled the environmental activist.
  • My cooking skills are so bad that even my own dog is appalled when I enter the kitchen.
  • She was appalled to discover her roommate had been using her toothbrush for three months.

appall

VERB

[/əˈpɔːl/]

to shock or dismay someone greatly

The crime scene photos appall the rookie detective on her very first day.
💡 Concept

The crime scene photos appall the rookie detective on her very first day.

Seeing the destroyed kitchen made the chef's face go pale and appalled him. (AP(to) + PALL(pale))
🧠 Mnemonic

Seeing the destroyed kitchen made the chef's face go pale and appalled him. (AP(to) + PALL(pale))

Watching the chandelier fall made the terrified guests appalled.
🎵 Rhyme

Watching the chandelier fall made the terrified guests appalled.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/əˈpɔːl/
🇬🇧 UK/əˈpɔːl/

🌳Etymology

Prefixap--
Rootpall

Origin

From Old French 'apallir' meaning 'to make pale,' derived from 'a-' (to) + 'pallir' (to become pale), which comes from Latin 'pallidus' meaning 'pale.' The sense evolved from 'making pale' to 'shocking or dismaying' someone.

Breakdown

ap- (to) + pall (from Latin pallidus, pale) + -en (to make/become) = appall (to shock or make pale with fear/dismay)

🎵Rhyme

call
fall
wall
hall

🔗Collocations

be appalled by
appall someone
absolutely appalled
appalling behavior
appalled silence
appall the public

📝Examples

“The amount of food waste at the buffet appalled the environmental activist.”

😄 Fun example

“My cooking skills are so bad that even my own dog is appalled when I enter the kitchen.”

😄 Fun example

“She was appalled to discover her roommate had been using her toothbrush for three months.”

“The corruption scandal appalled voters across the nation.”

📚Related Words

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