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Webster 1913 Edition


Conspicuous

Con-spic′u-ous

,
Adj.
[L.
conspicuus
, fr.
conspicere
to get sight of, to perceive;
con-
+
spicere
,
specere
, to look. See
Spy
]
1.
Open to the view; obvious to the eye; easy to be seen; plainly visible; manifest; attracting the eye.
It was a rock
Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds,
Conspicious
far.
Milton.
Conspicious
by her veil and hood,
Signing the cross, the abbess stood.
Sir W. Scott.
2.
Obvious to the mental eye; easily recognized; clearly defined; notable; prominent; eminent; distinguished;
as, a
conspicuous
excellence, or fault
.
Con-spic′u-ous-ly
,
adv.
Con-spic′u-ous-ness
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition


Conspicuous

CONSPICUOUS

,
Adj.
[L., to look or see. See Species.]
1.
Open to the view; obvious to the eye; easy to be seen; manifest; as, to stand in a conspicuous place.
Or come I less conspicuous.
2.
Obvious to the mental eye; clearly or extensively known, perceived or understood. Hence, eminent; famous; distinguished; as a man of conspicuous talents; a lady of conspicuous virtues.

Definition 2024


conspicuous

conspicuous

English

Adjective

conspicuous (comparative more conspicuous, superlative most conspicuous)

  1. Obvious or easy to notice.
    • 1928, Lawrence R. Bourne, chapter 7, in Well Tackled!:
      No, don't, replied the superintendent; in fact, I'd rather you made yourself conspicuous elsewhere. Go down to the landing stage and cross to New Brighton or Wallaseydoesn't matter whichand come back. No doubt you will be seen, and reported to have gone across.
    He was conspicuous by his absence.
  2. Noticeable or attracting attention, especially if unattractive.
    • 1969, Saul Bellow, Mr Sammler's Planet, Penguin Books Ltd, page 6:
      For his height he had a small face. The combination made him conspicuous.
    He had a conspicuous lump on his forehead.

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