c.1330, "open to view," from O.Fr.
overt (Fr.
ouvert), pp. of
ovrir "to open," from L.
aperire "to open, uncover," from PIE
*ap-wer-yo- from
*ap- "off, away" + base
*wer- "to cover" (see
weir). Cf. L.
operire "to cover," from the same root with PIE prefix
*op- "over;" and Lith.
atveriu "open,"
uzveriu "shut."