First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
appoint
verb ap·point \ə-ˈpȯint\
: to choose (someone) to have a particular job : to give (someone) a position or duty
: to decide or establish (something) in an official way
: to decide (the time or place at which something will happen or be done)
Full Definition of APPOINT
transitive verb
1
a : to fix or set officially <appoint a trial date> b : to name officially <will appoint her director of the program> c archaic : arrange d : to determine the disposition of (an estate) to someone by virtue of a power of appointment
2
: to provide with complete and usually appropriate or elegant furnishings or equipment <a beautifully appointed room>
intransitive verb
: to exercise a power of appointment
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Origin of APPOINT
Middle English, from Anglo-French appointer, from a- (from Latin ad-) + point point
Synonym Discussion of APPOINT
furnish, equip, outfit, appoint, accoutre mean to supply one with what is needed. furnish implies the provision of any or all essentials for performing a function <a sparsely furnished apartment>. equip suggests the provision of something making for efficiency in action or use <a fully equipped kitchen>. outfit implies provision of a complete list or set of articles as for a journey, an expedition, or a special occupation <outfitted the family for a ski trip>. appoint implies provision of complete and usually elegant or elaborate equipment or furnishings <a lavishly appointed apartment>. accoutre suggests the supplying of personal dress or equipment for a special activity <fully accoutred members of a polar expedition>.
Rhymes with APPOINT
adjoint, anoint, aroint, ballpoint, bluepoint, blue point, break point, butt joint, checkpoint, choke point, clip joint, conjoint, dew point, disjoint, drypoint, end point, fixed-point, flash point, game point, grade point, gunpoint, High Point, hinge joint, hip joint, ice point, juke joint, knifepoint, lap joint, match point, midpoint, near point, nonpoint, outpoint, pen point, pinpoint, pourpoint, price point, seal point, set point, standpoint, strongpoint, tuck-point, viewpoint, waypoint
APPOINTED Defined for Kids
appoint
verb ap·point \ə-ˈpȯint\
ap·point·edap·point·ing
Definition of APPOINT for Kids
1
: to choose for some duty, job, or office <The school board appointed three new teachers.>
2
: to decide on usually from a position of authority <The teacher appointed a time for our meeting.>
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