apparently conflicting senses of "apparent"

Context is the key. I think personally, when used after a verb , it most often means "prominently visible"...

"His happiness was apparent for all to see", "His bravery became apparent when he was threatened by criminals"

When used before a noun, it often means "appearing as such but not necessarily so"...

"For all his apparent wealth he had no money to pay the rent", "the committee investigated some apparent discrepancies".

Contrex has a good point, although his examples are of "apparent" used as an adjective, not a noun (i don't believe i can think of any use of apparent as a noun). There is a common expression in the English language to the effect that something is "more apparent than real." Very often, the use of apparent as an adjective means that the speaker or author is reserving judgment on whether or not what is apparent actually is real; in many cases, the intent is to imply that what is apparent is not actually real. The use of "apparently" can also express the same doubt, as when the adverb is employed to show that the speaker or writer is not making any claim about the truth of what is said: "he apparently believes that . . . " implies that the speaker or writer can only assume something without actually knowing it, and inferentially invites the individual referred to to assert or deny that which the speaker or writer has claimed is apparent.

So, you are stuck with context to attempt to determine what the speaker or writer intends in the use of apparent or apparently.

Indeed. My examples are of "apparent" used as an adjective, because that is what it is. It cannot be used as a noun, and I never said so. I invite you to read my post again to satisfy yourself about that. My point was about placement before or after verbs and nouns.

I think you must have read my post a little too quickly, because what I actually wrote was:-





A case of shoot-from-the-hip posting? Get "on my case" if you must, you seem to have started that in another thread, but I advise you to make very sure indeed of your ground before launching a dart, in order to avoid appearing ridiculous...

No, not at all--it is more a case arising from the fact that i am slowly going blind. How very unfortunate if that wounded you in your self-love.

My own myopia is severe, and I was an ROP baby who has had 2 detached retinas and a virectomy and scleral buckle...

I cannot adequately express how happy i am for you.

Thank you for responding. I think contrex's rule works.