Transparent, a.
Etymology: [F., from LL. transparens, -entis, p. pr. of transparere to be transparent; L. trans across, through + parere to appear. See Appear.]
1. Having the property of transmitting rays of light, so that bodies can be distinctly seen through; pervious to light; diaphanous; pellucid; as, transparent glass; a transparent diamond; -- opposed to Ant: opaque. "Transparent elemental air." Milton.
2. Admitting the passage of light; open; porous; as, a transparent veil. Dryden.
Syn. -- Translucent; pellucid; clear; bright; limpid; lucid; diaphanous. See Translucent. -- Trans*par"ent*ly, adv. -- Trans*par"ent*ness, n.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for transparent; he lists it under candid, clear, evident.
Where he writes about it:
There may be transparent integrity or transparent fraud. — from candid
Transparent refers to the medium through which a substance is seen, clear to the substance itself, without reference to anything to be seen through it; we speak of a stream as clear when we think of the water itself; we speak of it as transparent with reference to the ease with which we see the pebbles at the bottom. — from clear
A transparent body allows the forms and colors of objects beyond to be seen through it; a translucent body allows light to pass through, but may not permit forms and colors to be distinguished; plate glass is transparent, ground glass is translucent. — from clear
Synonyms
candidclearevidentaboveboardapparentartlessconspicuousdiaphanousdiscernibledistinctexplicitfairfrankglaringguilelesshonestimpartialindubitableingenuousinnocentintelligiblelimpidlucidmanifestnaiveobviousopenovertpalpablepatentpellucidperceptibleperspicuousplainsimplesincerestraightforwardtangibletranslucenttruthfulunadornedunambiguousunbiasedunequivocalunmistakableunprejudicedunreservedunsophisticatedvisible
Antonyms
adroitambiguousartfulcloudyconcealedcovertcraftycunningdarkdeceitfuldesigningdimdiplomaticdubiousfoggyfoxyhiddenimpalpableimpenetrableimperceptibleindistinctinsincereintriguinginvisibleknowinglatentmaneuveringmysteriousobscureoccultopaquesecretsharpshrewdslysubtletrickyturbidundiscoveredunimaginedunintelligibleunknownunseenunthought-ofvaguewily