ob´vi|ous|ness

ob´vi|ous|ness
ob|vi|ous «OB vee uhs», adjective.
1. easily seen or understood; clear to the eye or mind; not to be doubted; plain: »

It is obvious that two and two make four. It is obvious that a blind man ought not to drive an automobile. The frail child was in obvious need of food and sunshine.

2. Obsolete. being or standing in the way; fronting.
3. Obsolete. exposed or open (to): »

The pedant is…obvious to ridicule (Sir Richard Steele).

╂[< Latin obvius (with English -ous) < obviam in the way < ob across + via way]
–ob´vi|ous|ly, adverb.
–ob´vi|ous|ness, noun.
Synonym Study 1 Obvious, apparent, evident mean plain to see, easy to understand. Obvious suggests standing out so prominently that the eye or mind cannot miss it: »

His exhaustion was obvious when he fell asleep standing up.

Apparent means plainly to be seen as soon as one looks (with eye or mind) toward it: »

A dent in the fender is apparent.

Evident means plainly to be seen because all the apparent facts point to it: »

When he did not drive the car home, it was evident that he had had an accident.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • ar´du|ous|ness — ar|du|ous «AHR ju uhs», adjective. 1. hard to do; requiring much effort; difficult: »an arduous lesson. SYNONYM(S): laborious. 2. using up much energy; strenuous: »He enjoys an arduous workout in the gymnasium. 3. hard to climb; …   Useful english dictionary

  • con´gru|ous|ness — con|gru|ous «KONG gru uhs», adjective. 1. Geometry. exactly coinciding. 2. in harmony; agreeing. SYNONYM(S): harmonious, accordant, conformable. 3. fitting; appropriate. ╂[< Latin …   Useful english dictionary

  • cu´ri|ous|ness — cu|ri|ous «KYUR ee uhs», adjective. 1. eager to know: »a curious student. Small children are very curious, and ask many questions. Girls have curious minds And fain would know the end of everything (Elizabeth Barrett Browning). 2. too eager to… …   Useful english dictionary

  • de´vi|ous|ness — de|vi|ous «DEE vee uhs», adjective. 1. out of the direct way; winding; twisting; roundabout: »We took a devious route through side streets and alleys to avoid the crowded main streets. SYNONYM(S): circuitous, tortuous, rambling. 2. Figurative.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • fat´u|ous|ness — fat|u|ous «FACH u uhs», adjective. 1. stupid but self satisfied; foolish; silly: »a fatuous smile, a fatuous empty headed conversation. These poor Might Have Beens, These fatuous, ineffectual Yesterdays! (William Ernest Henley). SYNONYM(S): See… …   Useful english dictionary

  • imper´vi|ous|ness — im|per|vi|ous «ihm PUR vee uhs», adjective. 1. having no way through; not letting things pass through; allowing no passage: »A raincoat made of rubber is impervious to rain. SYNONYM(S): impermeable. 2. Figurative. not open to argument,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • noc´u|ous|ness — noc|u|ous «NOK yu uhs», adjective. noxious; hurtful; poisonous: »a nocuous gas. ╂[< Latin nocuus (with English ous) < nocēre to harm] –noc´u|ous|ly, adverb. –noc´u|ous|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • nu´mer|ous|ness — nu|mer|ous «NOO muhr uhs, NYOO », adjective. 1. very many; of great number: »The child asked numerous questions. SYNONYM(S): manifold, several, innumerable. 2. in great numbers; consisting of many; plentiful: »He has a numerous acquaintance among …   Useful english dictionary

  • o´dor|ous|ness — o|dor|ous «OH duhr uhs», adjective. giving forth or having an odor, especially a pleasant odor; sweet smelling; fragrant: »Spices are odorous. ... the odorous breath of morn (Milton). SYNONYM(S): aromatic. ╂[< Latin odorus (with English ous)]… …   Useful english dictionary

  • on´er|ous|ness — on|er|ous «ON uhr uhs», adjective. 1. hard to take or carry; burdensome; oppressive; troublesome: »Overtime work is well paid, but it is often onerous. SYNONYM(S): heavy, weighty, arduous. 2. Law. of the nature of a legal burden or obligation.… …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”