Highlighted

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

  1. To make something stand out visually or in importance by emphasizing it in text, speech, or another context | to mark or show a particular feature as significant or special
  2. To emphasize or draw attention to a particular element, characteristic, or passage in communication, imagery, or another medium | to cause a feature to be especially noticeable
  3. To indicate, feature, or stress a key point or quality in writing, speech, or another format, making it distinct or prominent from its surroundings | to signal importance

Etymology: The adjective emerged in English in the mid-19th century, derived from the noun form that had been circulating somewhat earlier. Its roots trace back to Latin, where the base word carried the meaning of "to show" or "to make clear," a sense that filtered into English via French during the Middle Ages. However, it was not until the 1800s that this adjective form began to be used regularly to describe something that is easily perceived or readily understood. The Latin verb "manifestare," meaning "to make evident" or "to reveal," underpins this term. This verb itself comes from "manifestus," which intriguingly combines "manus" (hand) and a root related to "festus" (struck or seized), suggesting something that can literally be caught or handled—something unmistakably clear. This vivid physical imagery of grasping or seizing something tangible evolved metaphorically over centuries into the abstract notion of clarity and obviousness. In English usage, the adjective has often appeared in philosophical and legal texts, where the clarity of an idea, fact, or evidence must be unmistakable. Its adoption in these fields reflects the word’s steady shift from a physical to an intellectual domain. The term’s journey from describing something that could be physically held to something that can be mentally grasped highlights the dynamic ways language adapts and evolves. Thus, the adjective carries with it a lineage of revealing and grasping, from Latin hands to modern minds, encapsulating the transition from concrete to abstract understanding.

Synonyms: emphasized, accentuated, marked, noted, illuminated

Antonyms: obscured, hidden