'appear' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'appere'/'appare', borrowed from Old French 'aparir'/'apparoir', where the prefix 'a-' (from Latin ad-) meant 'to' and the root (from Latin) 'parēre' meant 'to come into view or to appear'.

'appear' changed from Middle English forms like 'appere' (from Old French 'aparir'/'apparoir'), which in turn came from Latin 'apparēre' (to appear), and eventually became the modern English word 'appear'.

Initially it meant 'to come into view' (literally 'to appear'), and over time the meaning expanded to include 'to seem' or 'to give an impression', while retaining the original sense of becoming visible.