appal
UK: əˈpɔːl | US: əˈpɔːl
vt. to shock or horrify someone deeply
vt. to cause someone to feel dismay or disgust
appal = ap<toward> + pal<pale>
- ap (variant of "ad," meaning "toward" in Latin)
- pal (from Old French "palir," meaning "to grow pale," derived from Latin "pallere")
Etymology Origin:
The word "appal" originated in Middle English from the Old French term "apalir," meaning "to grow pale." It combines the Latin prefix "ad-" (toward) with "pallere" (to be pale). The logic is vivid: when horrified, one's face often turns pale. Over time, the meaning shifted from the physical reaction (growing pale) to the emotional cause (shocking or horrifying someone).
The graphic images of the accident appalled the viewers.
She was appalled by his rude behavior at the dinner party.
The cruelty of the crime appalled even the seasoned detective.
Environmentalists are appalled by the deforestation rates.
His lack of empathy appalled his colleagues.