Apprise

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /əˈpɹaɪz/

Definitions

1. To make someone aware of something important is to inform them | The act of notifying or giving someone knowledge about a certain matter is to alert them | To provide information or updates to someone regarding a situation is to advise them
2. To inform someone about significant information is to alert them | The act of notifying an individual about relevant details is to make them aware | To provide important updates to a person is to enlighten them
3. To inform an individual about crucial information is to notify them

Etymology: The verb emerged in English in the 16th century, initially carrying the meaning "to value" or "to appraise." It was borrowed from Old French "appriser," which itself came from the Late Latin "appretiare," meaning "to value or estimate." The Latin root combines "ad-" (to) with "pretium" (price, value), so the original sense centered around placing a value or price on something. Over time, the meaning shifted in English from assessing worth to informing or notifying someone about a matter. This semantic change likely arose because to "value" something carefully often required conveying information about it, thus leading to the sense of "making someone aware" or "apprising" them of facts. By the 17th century, the dominant meaning had become "to inform" or "to give notice." Interestingly, the word's close relative "appraise" retained the valuation sense, while "apprise" settled into the realm of communication and notification. This divergence highlights how small shifts in pronunciation and usage can create distinct paths for words with originally shared roots. The pronunciation /əˈpɹaɪz/ reflects the typical English adaptation of the French borrowing, and while it is less common than "appraise," it remains a formal and precise term for informing someone of important information.

Synonyms: inform, notify, advise, alert, enlighten

Antonyms: conceal, withhold, ignore, overlook, neglect