Perspicuus

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Characterized by clarity and transparency in expression, making ideas easily understood
2. Describing something that is clear and straightforward, lacking ambiguity or confusion
3. Pertaining to a style of communication that is lucent and comprehensible, often enhancing the conveyance of complex thoughts

Etymology: Before it described a clear argument, "perspicuus" in Latin meant something you could literally see through: glass, clear water, or transparent air. It came from "perspicere," "to look through," built from "per-" ("through") and "specere" ("to look"). That same root gave English "spectacle," "inspect," and "speculate." The figurative sense came early in Latin. Writers applied the adjective to speech and writing that let the meaning shine through without obstruction, so a clear style was one that showed its sense as plainly as a pane of glass shows what lies behind it. English took the word from Latin much later, and it kept that double sense of seeing and understanding. Its more familiar relative, "perspicacious," which means keen-sighted or shrewd, descends from the same Latin verb.

Synonyms: clear, transparent, lucid, evident, distinct

Antonyms: obscure, unclear, ambiguous, vague, confusing