Also 7–9 appretiation. [Found once c. 1400; then not till 17th c. Both in early and mod. use prob. a. Fr. appréciation, n. of action f. apprécier, ad. L. appretiāre: see APPRECIATE and -TION.]
1. The action of setting a money value upon; valuation, appraisement. rare.
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 83. To take the sheep-stock off the outgoing tenant’s hands by appreciation of arbiters.
2. The action of estimating qualities or things; deliberate judgment.
1604. Playfere, Serm. bef. Prince Hen. (1605), 35 (L.). The Schoolemen shew here that great griefe may be considered two waies. According to a mans appretiation, and according to his intension.
1864. G. Masson, in N. & Q., 411. He is … very severe in his appreciation of Buchanan.
1880. McCarthy, Own Times, IV. lxvi. 500. Entirely mistaken in his appreciation of the condition of things.
3. Perception, recognition, intelligent notice; esp. perception of delicate impressions or distinctions.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 52. Þis word for notiþ or takiþ appreciacoun.
1859. Mill, Liberty, iii. (1865), 33/1. The appreciation of means towards an acknowledged end.
1879. C. King, in Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 113/1. A much better appreciation of the intricacies of the country.
Mod. Men differ greatly in their appreciation of varieties of vowel sound.
4. Adequate or high estimation, sympathetic recognition of excellence.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah Sight, II. xii. 259. Not the intrinsecall worth of their tears, but Gods gracious appretiation of the sincerity thereof.
1870. H. Macmillan, Bible Teach., xii. 246. An eye and mind that have no appreciation of scenery.
5. Rise in exchangeable value; cf. APPRECIATE 4.
1789–96. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 323. Considered rather as an appreciation of Gold and Silver than a depreciation of paper.
1883. Goschen, in Times, 20 Feb., 7/4. A considerable appreciation in the value of gold.
