The term 'was appealing' can be represented by two crossword solutions: PLEADED (7 letters) and pled (4 letters). Pleading is a legal term that refers to the act of making an appeal to a court or other authority. It is usually done by a lawyer on behalf of their client in order to present evidence or arguments in support of their case. Pled is a shortened form of PLEADED, and is often used in informal contexts.