Final answer:
An appeal to ad verecundiam is a rhetorical appeal based on tradition or authority, using the opinion of an expert or authority figure to argue a point.
Step-by-step explanation:
An appeal to ad verecundiam, or an appeal to authority, is most directly related to the idea of using the opinion of an expert or authority as evidence in an argument. This fits the description of the second option provided: The appeal is based on tradition or authority. It is a type of rhetorical appeal in which the speaker or writer attempts to persuade the audience by citing an authority figure or tradition in support of their argument. However, appeals to authority can sometimes be misused if the authority is not truly expert in the relevant field or if the topic does not logically align with the authority's expertise.