Obvious, a.
Etymology: [L. obvius; ob (see Ob-) + via way. See Voyage.]
1. Opposing; fronting. [Obs.] To the evil turn My obvious breast. Milton.
2. Exposed; subject; open; liable. [Obs.] "Obvious to dispute." Milton.
3. Easily discovered, seen, or understood; readily perceived by the eye or the intellect; plain; evident; apparent; as, an obvious meaning; an obvious remark. Apart and easy to be known they lie, Amidst the heap, and obvious to the eye. Pope.
Syn. -- Plain; clear; evident. See Manifest. -- Ob"vi*ous*ly, adv. -- Ob"vi*ous-ness, n.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for obvious; he lists it under clear, evident.
Where he writes about it:
That is obvious which is directly in the way so that it can not be missed; as, the application of the remark was obvious. — from evident