We explain what is something obvious, the origin of the term and how its meaning changed. Also, what are its synonyms.
What is obvious?
When we say that something is obvious, we mean that it is something obvious, clear, easily understandablewhich does not merit further explanations and which, therefore, is known to everyone or is a superficial matter.
Obvious things are those that are right in front of our eyes, that do not require an effort to be understood. This applies to any type of referent, such as an “obvious answer”, that is, the one anyone would give; a “very obvious strategy”, that is, one that anyone could spot and decipher.
Even It is used as an affirmative answer to questions, when you want to emphasize agreement or that one thinks about the matter very enthusiastically:
—Will you come to the farewell party?
– Obvious! I wouldn't miss it for the world!
This word comes from Latin obviuscomposed of the prefix ob“in front of” or “in front of”, and the word viam which translates “way”. Thus, the obvious for the Romans was what they encountered or what they crossed along the way. The phrase obviously I'll go It meant putting a stop to something or someone, in the sense of crossing their path.
Although it did not have the same meaning in Latin, it is understandable that it ended up meaning “something at hand”, “in front of the eyes” since it is “in the middle of the road”. In any case, Its first documented use in Spanish with the meaning we give it today is from 1739.. This is, therefore, a relatively recent meaning for the term.
They are synonyms of obvious: understandable, evident, notorious, transparent and to a certain extent easy, simple, given. On the contrary, its antonyms would be: incomprehensible, hidden, secret, mysterious.
Continue with: Plausible
References
- “Obvio, -via” in the Language Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy.
- “Etymology of Obvio” in the Online Spanish Etymological Dictionary.
- “Obvious” in Wiktionary.
