appellant, a. and n.
(əˈpɛlənt)
Also 6–7 appealant.
[a. Fr. appellant, pr. pple. (also used subst.) of appeller: see appeal v. and -ant. Occas. conformed to appeal vb. in 16–17th c.]
A. adj.
1. Law and gen. Appealing: a. accusing, challenging; b. appealing to a higher tribunal against an unsatisfactory decision; c. asking or crying for assistance.
(In Lords Appellants, orig. adj., but soon treated as n.: cf. accountant.) See B 1.
| 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, i. i. 34 Free from other misbegotten hate, Come I appealant to this Princely presence. 1700 R. Brady Cont. Hist. Eng. Rich. II, Index C, Appellant Lords in Richard II's Reign. 1808 Bentham Sc. Reform 111 Power to the House of Lords..to decree payment..by any of the parties appellant. 1871 J. Macduff Mem. Patmos xi. 143 An appellant voice represented as rising loud before Him who sitteth on the throne. |
2. Law. As regards appeals; appellate.
| 1818 Hallam Mid. Ages (1841) I. v. 458 Their jurisdiction in private causes was merely appellant. 1827 ― Const. Hist. (1876) II. 200 The presbyterian tribunals were made subject to the appellant control of parliament. |
B. n.
1. One who ‘appeals’ another of treason or felony: see appeal v. 1. Obs. exc. Hist.
| [1387–8 Rot. Parl. III. 236 (xi. Rich. II.) Les ditz Duc & Countes Appellantz.] 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, iv. i. 105 Lords Appealants, your differences shal all rest vnder gage. 1628 Coke On Litt. 287 b, Wrongs done to the Appellants themselves, as Robbery, Rape. 1691 Blount Law Dict., Appellant, Is he who hath committed some Felony..and now Appeals, that is, Accuses others who were complices. 1700 R. Brady Cont. Hist. Eng. Rich. II, 371 C, The protestation of the Five Lords Appellants. 1809 Tomlins Law Dict. H i b, If the appellant [in an Appeal of Death] does not prosecute his appeal, or if he release to the appellant, the appellee may be indicted. 1840 Blackw. Mag. XLVII. 279 A person was charged with having poisoned a man; the accuser, called the appellant, etc. 1875 Gairdner Ho. York & Lanc. ii, §7 ¶1 Three of the five ‘lords appellants’ of 1387. |
† b. Hence, One who challenges another to single combat (orig. to prove upon his body the treason or felony of which he ‘appealed’ him). Obs.
| 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. vii. (1520) 143/2 A great batayll..bytwene two squyers..Gloucestre that was the appellaunt and Arthur the defendaunt. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, ii. iii. 49 Ready are the Appellant and Defendant..to enter the lists. 1671 Milton Samson 1220 Answer thy appellant..Who now defies thee thrice to single fight. |
2. One who appeals to a higher court against the decision of a lower one; also, gen. One who appeals for vindication or corroboration.
| 1611 Cotgr., Bailler griefs en plaiderie, an Appealant to alledge the wrongs..done vnto him by the sentence from which he hath appealed. 1726 Ayliffe Parerg. 72 Pending the Appeal nothing can be attempted in Prejudice of the Appellant. 1826 Southey Vind. Eccl. Ang. 523 You called for such proofs... I am not the appellant in this controversy. 1846 Ld. Campbell Chancellors (1856) V. 490 To retain him as junior to prepare the appellant's case. |
b. Ch. Hist. in pl. The Jansenists and others who appealed to a general council against the ‘Unigenitus’ bull issued by Pope Clement XI. against Quesnel's French translation of the New Testament.
| 1753 in Chambers Cycl. Supp. |
3. gen. One who appeals, who makes a request, entreaty, or specially pointed address.
| 1704 Swift T. Tub Ded., An humble and an earnest appellant for the laurel. 1853 C. Brontë Villette viii. (1876) 67, I have seen her feelings appealed to, and I have smiled in half-pity, half-scorn at the appellants. |