appointment

 
Pronunciation: /əˈpɔɪntm(ə)nt/

noun

  • 1an arrangement to meet someone at a particular time and place: she made an appointment with my receptionist
  • 2an act of assigning a job or position to someone: his appointment as President
  • a job or position: she took up an appointment as head of communications
  • a person appointed to a job or position: government ministers and other political appointments are frequently replaced
  • 3 (appointments) furniture or fittings: the room was spartan in its appointments

Phrases

by appointment

having previously made an arrangement to do something: visits are by appointment only

by appointment to the Queen

(in the UK) used by manufacturers to indicate that their products are sold to the queen and are therefore of guaranteed quality.

power of appointment

  • 1power to select the holder of a particular job or position.
  • 2 Law power to decide the disposal of property, in exercise of a right conferred by the owner.

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French apointement, from apointer (see appoint)