APPARENT


Meaning of APPARENT in English

I. -rənt adjective

Etymology: Middle English apparaunt, apparent, from Old French aparant, aparent (present participle of aparoir to appear), from Latin apparent-, apparens, present participle of apparēre to appear — more at appear

1. : capable of easy perception: as

a. : readily perceptible to the senses, especially sight : open to ready observation or full view : unobstructed and unconcealed

an apparent change

the flaw in the metal was apparent

deposits of transported material left by the retreating ice are perhaps the most widely apparent results of the glaciation — American Guide Series: New Hampshire

b. : capable of being readily perceived by the sensibilities or understanding as certainly existent or present

a face in which a strange strife … was apparent — Thomas Hardy

“you see — my wife — ” he let it go at that because it was apparent that they understood — John Steinbeck

2. : readily manifest to senses or mind as real or true and supported by credible evidence of genuine existence but possibly distinct from or contrary to reality or truth

the states are very jealous of any even apparent encroachment by the federal government — Stephen Duggan

to this end his apparent digressions eventually return — H.O.Taylor

— distinguished from actual

3. obsolete : likely , probable

as well the fear of harm as harm apparent … ought to be prevented — Shakespeare

4. : entitled (as by right of birth) to inherit (as property) or succeed (as to a throne) in the ordinary course of events — see heir apparent ; compare presumptive

Synonyms:

seeming , ostensible , illusory : apparent may imply only distinctness from reality or truth

most children have periods of apparent stagnation … but probably throughout these periods there is progress in ways that are not easily perceptible — Bertrand Russell

It may also describe a semblance contrary to truth and actuality, a likeness dissipated by close scrutiny or consideration of all facts

the high mineral content is the reason why irrigation often produces bumper crops from apparent deserts — Stuart Chase

It usually does not suggest a reprehensible intent to deceive

the long corridor … carpeted with a narrow bordered carpet whose parallel lines increased its apparent length — Arnold Bennett

seeming stresses a close resemblance to reality detected only by correcting faulty observation or analysis

John had doubtless no wish to be entangled in a long quarrel … and the Archbishop's mediation allowed him to withdraw with seeming dignity — J.R.Green

It is not derogatory in suggesting deception

the whole of Burns' song has an air of straight dealing … but these seeming simplicities are craftily charged — C.E.Montague

ostensible applies to what is explicitly declared or avowed or to what one would naturally and logically assume from what appears

it is by no means true that every law is void which may seem … unsuited to its ostensible end — O.W.Homes †1935

It often applies to differences between such declarations or appearances and a true or actual end, aim, purpose, or character

natives … whose ostensible business was the repair of broken necklaces … but whose real end seemed to be to raise money for angry Maharanees — Rudyard Kipling

It often applies to conscious deception

the first time that he had been ostensibly frank as to his purpose while really concealing it — Thomas Hardy

illusory definitely states that the described impressions of truth or actuality are illusions based on deceptive semblances, formed through faulty observation or analysis, or warped by emotional forces

the multiplication of wants, real or illusory — Lewis Mumford

we need a deeper reality to take the place of these early beliefs which the growth of intelligence necessarily shows to be illusory — Havelock Ellis

but hopes may be illusory or ill-founded — they may even attach to what is demonstrably impossible — M.R.Cohen

Synonym: see in addition evident .

II. noun

( -s )

Etymology: by shortening

obsolete : heir apparent

III. əˈpa(a)rənt, aˈ-, -per- sometimes -pār- transitive verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

Etymology: ad- + Latin parent-, parens parent, relative — more at parent

: to bring into close relationship : connect (as by way of descent or derivation)

Islam, the universal church through which … Syriac society came … to be apparented to the Iranic and Arabic societies — A.J.Toynbee

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.