'apprize' originates from Old French and Medieval Latin influences, ultimately tied to Vulgar Latin *appretiare (from Latin 'pretium' meaning 'price'), where the element related to 'pretium' meant 'price, value'.

'apprize' changed from Middle English forms such as 'apprisen' (influenced by Old French 'apreisier'/'aprecier'), and through usage variants produced the modern spelling 'apprize'. It has been used historically both with the sense 'to value' and (by confusion with 'apprise') 'to inform'.

Initially, it meant 'to set or estimate a price' (to value). Over time the primary sense remained valuation, but a secondary sense 'to inform' arose (rare/archaic) through confusion with 'apprise'.