Appearance

Ap*pear"ance (&?;), n. [F. apparence, L. apparentia, fr. apparere. See Appear.]

1. The act of appearing or coming into sight; the act of becoming visible to the eye; as, his sudden appearance surprised me.

2. A thing seed; a phenomenon; a phase; an apparition; as, an appearance in the sky.

3. Personal presence; exhibition of the person; look; aspect; mien.

And now am come to see . . .
It thy appearance answer loud report.
Milton.

4. Semblance, or apparent likeness; external show. pl. Outward signs, or circumstances, fitted to make a particular impression or to determine the judgment as to the character of a person or a thing, an act or a state; as, appearances are against him.

There was upon the tabernacle, as it were, the appearance of fire.
Num. ix. 15.

For man looketh on the outward appearance.
1 Sam. xvi. 7.

Judge not according to the appearance.
John. vii. 24.

5. The act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings; a coming before the public in a particular character; as, a person makes his appearance as an historian, an artist, or an orator.

Will he now retire,
After appearance, and again prolong
Our expectation?
Milton.

6. Probability; likelihood. [Obs.]

There is that which hath no appearance.
Bacon.

7. (Law) The coming into court of either of the parties; the being present in court; the coming into court of a party summoned in an action, either by himself or by his attorney, expressed by a formal entry by the proper officer to that effect; the act or proceeding by which a party proceeded against places himself before the court, and submits to its jurisdiction. Burrill. Bouvier. Daniell.

To put in an appearance, to be present; to appear in person. -- To save appearances, to preserve a fair outward show.

Syn. -- Coming; arrival; presence; semblance; pretense; air; look; manner; mien; figure; aspect.