Other forms: appointments
An appointment is a time booked to see somebody. A doctor's appointment, make an appointment, miss the appointment.
It covers doctors, dentists, hairdressers and meetings, and by appointment only means no walking in. The other sense is being given a post: the appointment of a new director. Note By Appointment to His Majesty, the royal warrant British suppliers display; and that the Old French behind it means to bring to a point — an appointment is where two people's time meets.
1nounappointmentA time booked to see somebody.
“I have a dentist appointment at three o'clock.”
2noungivingThe giving of a post to somebody.
“The appointment of a new head teacher was announced this morning.”
Too few real examples of this word to estimate which sense is commonest.
appointment is a booked time, or a posting.
Old French appointement comes from appointer, to arrange, from a phrase meaning to bring to a point. Point, punctual and appoint come from the same point.
Old French
appointement
Middle English
appoyntement
English, today
appointment
From Middle English appoyntement, apoyntement, from Old French appointement, equivalent to appoint + -ment.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA