obverse

[ noun ob-vurs; adjective ob-vurs, ob-vurs ]

noun

1. the side of a coin, medal, flag, etc., that bears the principal design ( reverse ).
2. the front or principal surface of anything.
3. a counterpart.
4. Logic. a proposition obtained from another by obversion.

adjective

1. facing the observer.
2. corresponding to something else as a counterpart.
3. having the base narrower than the top, as a leaf.

obverse

/ ˈɒbvɜːs /

adjective

1. facing or turned towards the observer
2. forming or serving as a counterpart
3. (of certain plant leaves) narrower at the base than at the top

noun

1. a counterpart or complement
2. See reverse
   the side of a coin that bears the main design or device Compare reverse
3. 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

Derived Forms

• obˈversely, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of obverse¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of obverse¹

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

Example Sentences

The old Kaiser Franz Joseph, faithful and hardworking, was the obverse of the feckless and impetuous German kaiser.

From The Daily Beast

As for the obverse, my liberal allies, this explains why information that seems so obvious to us never gets through.

From The Daily Beast

The obverse statement is nearly always followed by a repetition of what the thing is.

From Project Gutenberg

A fourth method of building up a paragraph from a topic-sentence consists in telling what it is not; that is, giving the obverse.

From Project Gutenberg

On the reverse I made out a coat of arms, almost obliterated; but the obverse was clearer.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

The obverse side of the law of increasing returns is also of great importance.

From Project Gutenberg