Obviousness
/ˈɒb.vi.əs.nəs/noun
The quality of being easy to perceive, understand, or recognize.
Did you know?Obvious comes from Latin obvius, meaning “in the way” or “meeting you,” from ob- (“toward”) + via (“road”), so its ancient core is about something placed right in front of you.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weǵʰ-
“To go, transport, or move along a way”
Latin
Latin
via
“Road, way, path”
Latin
Latin
obvius
“In the way, meeting, confronting”
Late Latin
Latin
obviāre
“To go to meet, oppose, or come before”
Middle English
English
obvious
“Evident, readily seen or understood”
Modern English
English
obviousness
“The state or quality of being obvious”