'apprise' originates from Old French (via Anglo-French), specifically from verbs such as 'apprendre'/'appriser' (Modern French 'apprendre' meaning 'to learn' or 'to teach'), where the prefix 'a-' is a form of 'to/toward' and the root related to 'prendre' meant 'to take'.

'apprise' entered English in the early modern period from Middle French/Anglo-French forms (e.g. Middle French 'appriser' or forms related to 'apprendre') and developed into the English verb 'apprise' meaning 'to inform' and its derived forms such as 'apprised' and 'apprising'.

Initially related to teaching/learning or taking (via French and ultimately Latin roots), the sense shifted in English to emphasize 'making aware'—i.e., 'to inform or notify'—which is the common modern meaning.