overt
AdjectiveOpen English WordNet
Adjective (1)
- open and observable; not secret or hidden“an overt lie”“overt hostility”“overt intelligence gathering”“open ballots”Synonyms: openSimilar visible, naked, undisguised, baldSee also explicit, obvious, public, unconcealed
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: OF. overt, F. ouvert, p. p. of OF. ovrir, F. ouvrir, to open, of uncertain origin; cf. It. aprire, OIt. also oprire, L. aperire to open, operire to cover, deoperire to uncover. Perh. from L. aperire influenced by F. couvrir to cover. Cf. Aperient, Cover.
1. Open to view; public; apparent; manifest. Opposite of hidden.
Overt and apparent virtues bring forth praise.— Francis, Baron Verulam Bacon
2. Law Not covert; open; public; manifest; as, an overt act of treason. Thomas Babington Macaulay
No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.— Constitution of the U. S.
☞ In criminal law, an overt act is an open act done in pursuance and manifestation of a criminal design; the mere design or intent not being punishable without such act. In English law, market overt is an open market; a pound overt is an open, uncovered pound.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54