- apparent
- late 14c., from O.Fr. aparant, from L. apparentem (nom. apparens), prp. of apparere (see appear). First attested in phrase heir apparent (see heir). Apparently in the sense of "as far as one can judge, seemingly," first attested 1846. Apparent magnitude in astronomy (how bright a heavenly body looks from earth, as opposed to absolute magnitude, which is how bright it really is) is attested from 1875.