v. [Of rather late appearance; f. PRAISE v., previously, and, for some time, contemporaneously, used in same sense. Perh. formed on analogy of the synonymous PRIZE, APPRIZE: see the latter.]
1. To fix a price for, assign a money value to: esp. as an official valuer or appraiser.
[1383. Wyclif, Matt. xxvii. 9. The pris of a man preysid, whom thei preysiden, of the sonys of Yrael.
1590. Swinburne, Testaments, 220. Others praise them among the moueables; but it were better to praise them seuerally.]
1535. in Woods Lett. Illustr. Ladies (1852), II. 164. The stuff was appraised by the appraisers.
1661. Pepys, Diary, 2 Oct. All this morning at Pegg Kites appraising her goods that her mother has left.
1762. Hume, Hist. Eng. (1806), IV. lxii. 665. The cartoons were only appraised at three hundred pounds.
1878. Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 151. They [mercenaries] transferred their services to those who would appraise them more highly.
2. transf. To estimate the amount, quality or excellence of. Also refl.
1841. Myers, Cath. Th., IV. § 40. 385. Rightly to appraise the value of various truths.
1864. Tennyson, En. Arden, 154. The feeble infant Whom Enoch took, and handled all his limbs, Appraised his weight.
1869. Arber, James Is Ess., Introd. 4. The kings Sonnets and Poems appraise themselves.