Appelleren

Appelleren is a verb used in several Germanic languages, including Norwegian and Dutch, that denotes the act of making an appeal or calling upon something. In legal and administrative contexts, appelleren refers to submitting a formal request for review of a decision to a higher authority, such as a court or tribunal. The person or party who initiates the action is commonly described as the appellant in English-language usage; in local usage the equivalent term follows the language’s own conventions. Appelleren can also appear in non-legal contexts when someone appeals to another person, audience, or principle.

Etymology and scope: The term derives from a common Germanic root related to “to call” or “to address,” ultimately tracing back to Latin appellare via French and English. In Scandinavian languages, the form is cognate with other verbs meaning to appeal or to address.

Usage in law: When a decision is appealed, the higher court reviews questions of law and sometimes factual findings. Deadlines for filing an appeal, possible stays of enforcement, and the required form of a notice are defined by procedural rules that vary by jurisdiction. The outcome can uphold, overturn, or modify the original decision.

Rhetorical usage: In everyday language, appelleren also means to appeal to someone’s emotions, ethics, or logic, or to call attention to a cause or argument. The phrase is commonly followed by prepositions such as to or toward when translated, as in “to appeal to reason” or “to appeal to the audience.”