EVIDENT

[ev.i.dent] adj [ME, fr. MF, fr. L evident-, evidens, fr. e- + vident-, videns, prp. of videre to see--more at wit] (14c): clear to the vision or understanding syn evident, manifest, patent, distinct, obvious, apparent, plain, clear mean readily perceived or apprehended. evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion "an evident fondness for sweets". manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required "manifest hostility". patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it "patent defects". distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required "a distinct refusal". obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer "the obvious solution". apparent is very close to evident except that it may imply more conscious exercise of inference "for no apparent reason". plain suggests lack of intricacy, complexity, or elaboration "her feelings about him are plain". clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern "a clear explanation".