These words all used to denote visual impressions of the way a person or thing is or seems. Appearance , in the sense here considered, is the most neutral of these terms, making only a flat assertion of what one perceives.

• It had the appearance of an 18th century church; He had the rugged appearance of an athlete.

Appearance , however, like the other words, can be used to accent the contrast between what seems to be so and what is the fact of the matter: a despot who assumes the appearance of a benefactor.

Look usually applies to facial expression or demeanour rather than to other forms of appearance , such as dress, although it may ?implying a analogy with a person’s face ?be used to describe things as well: a Renaissance look to a building. Compare these two phrases: the appearance of a snob; the look of a snob. The former suggests dandyish clothes and a too-elegant manner; the latter suggests, along with other qualities, a supercilious expression.

Aspect is often interchangeable with look, but suggests more strongly the changing nature of appearance as it confronts the beholder: the pleasant aspect of a lake; an artist who had the aspect of a prizefighter. Aspect implies that the perception is a quality inherent in the thing perceived, a quality that is drawn out ?into focus, as it were ?by the eye of the beholder.

Semblance is almost invariably used to contrast appearance with reality: a doubtful assertion that has the semblance of truth; an enemy who cloaks his threats with the semblance of civility. It may however, be used to mean outward appearance without any suggestion of falseness: The faceless person in his dreams began to acquire the semblance of his dead brother.