inconspicuousadj.
/ɪnkənˈspɪkjuːəs/ a. That cannot be seen; invisible. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > invisibility > [adjective]
unseyenlyc1175
unsenec1200
unseeinga1300
invisible1340
unperceptiblea1398
unseeablea1400
unvisiblec1402
unsightablea1420
unsightyc1440
unperceivable?a1475
unsightfulc1480
imperceptible1536
secret1559
sightless1586
undiscernable1586
invised1609
viewlessa1616
imperceivablea1617
unspiablea1618
inconspicuous1624
undiscernible1624
inconspicablea1652
imperspicable1664
unperceptable1678
imperceptive1722
1624 [implied in: Abp. G. Abbot Treat. Perpetuall Visibilitie True Church 16 This paucitie of beleeuers, and inconspicuousnes of his Church. (at inconspicuousness n. 1)].
1660 R. Boyle New Exper. Physico-mechanicall xvii. 128 Those lesser and inconspicuous parcels of Air.
1678 R. Cudworth tr. Marcilius Ficinus in True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. iv. 333 The Life or Soul's passing into the Invisible or Inconspicuous.
1708 Brit. Apollo 15–20 Oct. The Moon, while in Conjunction with the Sun, is Inconspicuous.
1751 J. Jortin Remarks Eccl. Hist. I. 308 Socrates in Xenophon..says that the Deity is inconspicuous.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > [adjective] > incapable of discovery
investigablea1425
indiscoverable1640
undiscoverable1642
inexplorable1646
inconspicuous1648
traceless1651
unsuspectable1660
introuvable1824
undetectible1827
undetectable1863
1648 R. Boyle Seraphic Love (1660) 18 Their greatest Accomplishments compar'd to His Perfections..are..as inconspicuous as the faint Qualities of more ordinary Persons.
1713 G. Berkeley in Guardian 1 June 1/1 The joint Beauty of the whole, or the distinct Use of its Parts, were inconspicuous.
1793 T. Taylor tr. Iamblicus in tr. Emperor Julian Two Orations 122 (note) The occult art by which they were fabricated..was inconspicuous.
2.
a. Not readily seen or noticed; not prominent or striking in appearance or character.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > invisibility > [adjective] > not noticeable or conspicuous
imperceptible?a1475
inobservable1600
unremarkable1611
inevident1614
unobservable1615
subtle1654
invisible1665
unnoticeable1822
inconspicuous1828
unpronounced1852
unindictable1861
unconspicuous1874
unapparent1890
unseeming1923
1828 N. Webster Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. Inconspicuous..2. Not conspicuous.
1835 J. Ross Narr. Second Voy. North-west Passage xvii. 266 There was an inconspicuous aurora.
1854 J. D. Hooker Himalayan Jrnls. II. xxiv. 170 In inconspicuous scattered tufts.
1866 ‘G. Eliot’ Felix Holt III. xlv. 197 A veil drawn down gave her a sufficiently inconspicuous appearance.
1886 A. C. Swinburne Misc. 24 Shakespeare who led an inconspicuous life.
b. spec. in Botany. Of flowers, when small, green, or of pale colour.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > [adjective] > having particular shape, form, or arrangement > small and green
inconspicuous1839
1839 J. Lindley School Bot. iv. 46 Flowers usually racemose, very often small and inconspicuous.
1863 H. W. Bates Naturalist on River Amazons I. ii. 70 The majority of forest trees in equatorial Brazil have small and inconspicuous flowers.
1880 C. R. Markham Peruvian Bark xxii. 238 A wide-spreading melastomaceous plant, with inconspicuous flowers.
Derivatives
inconˈspicuously adv. †invisibly (obsolete); so as not to be readily perceived.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > invisibility > [adverb]
unseyenlyc1175
unvisiblyc1380
invisibly1382
unperceivablyc1390
unseeablya1395
unsightilyc1440
unsightfullyc1480
undiscernably1594
imperceptibly1603
imperceivably1617
indiscernibly1636
undiscernibly1655
inconspicuously1661
viewlessly1826
inappreciably1860
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > [adverb]
creepingly1548
unsuspectedly1645
soft-footedly1834
on (formerly upon) the prowl1836
inconspicuously1893
1661 R. Boyle New Exper. Physico-mech. (1682) 95 The particles of air which..inconspicuously lurk within the Bladder.
1893 Christian at Work (N.Y.) 13 Apr. This Chamber has..shared not inconspicuously in the history..[of] both church and state.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1624