apparent English · revision 5990

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1375|origins=la appareo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /əˈpær.ənt/, /əˈpeə.rənt/, US /əˈper.ənt/, /əˈpær.ənt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English apparaunt, apparent, [[bor|fro|aparant|t=evident, obvious, visible]], aparent (modern French apparent),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) the present participle of aparoir “to appear”,^(MWU 2024) from [[la|appārēns|t=visible, manifest]] (accusative apparentem),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the present participle of [[m|la|appārēre|t=to appear, come in sight]] (see [[appear]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ First in phrases such as [[heir apparent]], about 1375 in the OED,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) in the sense “manifest, evident”;^(OED 1989) meeting the eye, visible, before 1393 in Gower.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Manifest to the understanding, clear, is from about 1400,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and superficial or spurious also from about 1400.^(Etymonline) Appearing to the senses or mind but not necessarily real is from the 1640s, 1645 in the OED;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Hoad dates the sense “seeming” to the 17th century.^(Hoad 1986) In astronomy apparent magnitude, how bright a star looks from earth, is from 1875.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The noun, an heir apparent, is from 1393.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1375 – ''heir apparent''.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1393 – visible.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – evident, obvious.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1645 – seeming.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1875 – apparent magnitude.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Easily seen or understood; [[obvious]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Seeming to be real or true, but not necessarily so: ''his apparent innocence''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[apparently]]

+ * [[apparentness]]

+ * [[inapparent]]

+ * [[nonapparent]]

+ * [[subapparent]]

+ * [[unapparent]]

+ * [[apparent horizon]]

+ * [[apparent magnitude]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[apparition]]

+ * [[appear]]

+ * [[appearance]]

+ * [[heir apparent]]

+ * [[transparent]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The AHD notes that before a noun apparent means “seeming”, as in ''his apparent wealth'', while after a form of be it can mean either “seeming” or “obvious”, so writers should make the meaning clear from context.^(AHD) It groups apparent with clear, clear-cut, distinct, evident, manifest, obvious, patent and plain, all meaning readily seen, perceived or understood.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}