obverse

[ noun ob-vurs; adjective ob-vurs, ob-vurs ]
See synonyms for obverse on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the side of a coin, medal, flag, etc., that bears the principal design (opposed to reverse).

  2. the front or principal surface of anything.

  1. a counterpart.

  2. Logic. a proposition obtained from another by obversion.

adjective
  1. facing the observer.

  2. corresponding to something else as a counterpart.

  1. having the base narrower than the top, as a leaf.

Origin of obverse

1
1650–60; <Latin obversus turned toward or against (past participle of obvertere), equivalent to ob-ob- + vert(ere) to turn + -tus past participle suffix, with tt>s

Words that may be confused with obverse

Words Nearby obverse

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use obverse in a sentence

  • O good French language, cunning and good, that lets me read the sentence in obverse or converse as I will!

    The Rhythm of Life | Alice Meynell
  • The obverse side of the law of increasing returns is also of great importance.

British Dictionary definitions for obverse

obverse

/ (ˈɒbvɜːs) /


adjective
  1. facing or turned towards the observer

  2. forming or serving as a counterpart

  1. (of certain plant leaves) narrower at the base than at the top

noun
  1. a counterpart or complement

  2. the side of a coin that bears the main design or device: Compare reverse (def. 15)

  1. logic a categorial proposition derived from another by replacing the original predicate by its negation and changing the proposition from affirmative to negative or vice versa, as no sum is correct from every sum is incorrect

Origin of obverse

1
C17: from Latin obversus turned towards, past participle of obvertere, from ob- to + vertere to turn

Derived forms of obverse

  • obversely, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012