'apprise' originates from Old French 'apprendre' (meaning 'to teach, inform'), ultimately influenced by Latin roots where elements like 'ad-' meant 'to' and the root related to 'grasp/learn'.

'apprise' entered English via Middle English and Anglo-French forms (related to Old French 'apprendre') and developed into the modern English verb 'apprise'.

Initially associated with teaching or making someone aware, it evolved into the current primary sense of 'to inform or notify' (with a rarer, archaic sense meaning 'to appraise').