v.; also 8–9 appretiate. [f. L. appretiāt- ppl. stem of appretiā-re to set a price to, appraise, f. ap-, ad-, to + preti-um price. Cf. Fr. apprécier (15th c. in Godef.). The literal sense of the Fr. is supplied by APPRAISE, APPRIZE. In Eng., as in Fr., the med.L. spelling appreciāre has been followed. Neither this verb nor any derivative is in Johnson; but see sense 3.]
1. trans. To make or form an estimate of worth, quality or amount.
1769. Burke, Pres. St. Nat., Wks. II. 59. Let us calmly … appreciate those dreadful and deformed gorgons and hydras.
1817. W. Taylor, in Month. Rev., LXXXIII. 458. The extreme want of candour is lamented with which Priestley appretiated Hume.
1818. Accum, Chem. Tests, 496. The weight of the gold is to be appreciated.
1837. Sir W. Hamilton, Metaph., ii. (1877), I. 22. It was the bias of antiquity … to appreciate all knowledge principally by the higher standard.
2. To estimate aright, to perceive the full force of.
1798. Ferriar, Illustr. Sterne, iv. 124. The physiological reader only can appreciate the profound sagacity of this conclusion.
1842. Alison, Hist. Eur., lvii. § 43. IX. 41. Napoleon … instantly appreciating the magnitude of the danger.
1875. Grindon, Life, xiii. 167. Indeed, till the truth of a theme be appreciated, its error, if any, cannot be detected.
b. esp. To be sensitive to, or sensible of, any delicate impression or distinction.
1833. Brewster, Nat. Magic, ii. 32. The retina has not appreciated the influence of the simple red rays.
1862. F. Hall, Hindu Philos. Syst., 236. In like manner, a blind man is able to appreciate sound, touch, &c., but not colours.
1879. Prescott, Sp. Telephone, 7. If the number of vibrations exceeds forty thousand per second, the ear becomes incapable of appreciating the sound.
3. To esteem adequately or highly; to recognize as valuable or excellent; to find worth or excellence in.
1655. [See APPRECIATING.]
1742. Bailey, Appretiate, to set an high Price, Value, or Esteem upon anything.
1795. Fragm. Pol. & Hist., I. 230. Your labours will not be fully known and appreciated till the succeeding generation.
1858. Gladstone, Homer, I. 25. The mental culture necessary in order to appreciate Homer.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls., I. 171. It requires a finer taste than mine to appreciate him.
4. To raise in value; opposed to depreciate. (This and the following sense have been long in use in U.S.)
1779. P. Webster, Pol. Ess. (1791), 33. Any probable attempt to raise or appreciate the value of the money, would hoard it immediately.
1880. R. Mackenzie, 19th Cent., 207. During the prosperous years since the opening of the free trade period values of land and rents have been unduly appreciated.
1881. H. H. Gibbs, Double Standard, Pref. 9. The resumption of specie payments in Gold, thus appreciating that metal.
5. intr. To rise in value.
1789–96. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 323. A great demand for specie and bills, which occasioned the latter … to appreciate.
1882. P. F. Tidman, Gold & Silv. Money, 85. Gold has been steadily appreciating in value.
