'apperceive' originates from French, specifically the word 'apercevoir', where 'a-' (from Latin 'ad-') meant 'to' and 'percevoir' meant 'to perceive'.

'apperceive' entered English by analogy with philosophical terms such as 'apperception' (from French/German usage) and with influence from the verb 'apercevoir'; it was adapted into English as 'apperceive' and produced forms like 'apperceived'.

Initially the related philosophical term emphasized the active assimilation of perception into the mind ('apperception'); over time English 'apperceive' and its forms have come to mean perceiving or interpreting sensory input in light of prior knowledge — essentially the same core idea, used both in technical (philosophical/psychological) and occasional general contexts.