Zahir

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term describing aspects of reality that are conspicuous and readily perceived, often captivating the observer's attention
2. A concept referring to elements of existence that are obvious and easily noticed, frequently drawing the observer's fascination
3. An idea representing features of the world that are apparent and easily discernible, often enchanting those who observe them

Etymology: The Arabic root "ẓ-h-r" carries the idea of appearing and becoming visible. Its verb "ẓahara" means "to appear" or "to become manifest," and the adjective "ẓāhir" means "apparent" or "evident." English borrowed the adjective directly from Arabic, so the word arrived with its visual sense intact. In Islamic theology, "al-Ẓāhir," "the Manifest," became one of the divine names. It is paired with "al-Bāṭin," "the Hidden," in a Quranic verse that describes God as both the outward and the inward. That pairing gives the word its contrast between what is plainly seen and what lies beneath. The modern English sense, something so visible it cannot be ignored or forgotten, is familiar largely from Jorge Luis Borges's story "The Zahir," in which an ordinary coin becomes an obsession once a man has seen it.

Synonyms: visible, apparent

Antonyms: hidden, concealed