Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - apparent

 adjective  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French apparant, from Latin ~-, apparens, present participle of apparere to appear  Date: 14th century  1. open to view ; visible  2. clear or manifest to the understanding reasons that are readily ~  3. appearing as actual to the eye or mind  4. having an indefeasible right to succeed to a title or estate  5. manifest to the senses or mind as real or true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be factually valid the air of spontaneity is perhaps more ~ than real — J. R. Sutherland  • ~ness noun Synonyms:  ~, illusory, seeming, ostensible mean not actually being what appearance indicates. ~ suggests appearance to unaided senses that may or may not be borne out by more rigorous examination or greater knowledge the ~ cause of the accident. illusory implies a false impression based on deceptive resemblance or faulty observation, or influenced by emotions that prevent a clear view an illusory sense of security. seeming implies a character in the thing observed that gives it the appearance, sometimes through intent, of something else the seeming simplicity of the story. ostensible suggests a discrepancy between an openly declared or naturally implied aim or reason and the true one the ostensible reason for their visit.  Synonym: see in addition evident.