OBVERSE Meaning and
Definition
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The term "obverse" refers to the front or the primary side of a coin, banknote, or any other monetary instrument. It is the side that typically displays the image or portrait of a ruler, a national emblem, or any other significant symbol representing the issuing authority or country. The obverse is usually designed to be easily recognizable and distinguishable from the reverse side, aiding in the efficient identification and authentication of the currency or coin.
In a broader sense, "obverse" can also be used to describe the counterpart or opposite of something. It denotes the contrasting side or aspect of a concept or situation. For example, in a relationship, the obverse of love might be hate, and the obverse of success could be failure. It is important to note, however, that this usage is less common compared to the specific numismatic context.
The term can also be employed metaphorically to express the opposite or converse of a particular proposition or argument. In logic and rhetoric, the obverse is a fundamental concept used in reasoning to establish the validity or truth value of a statement. It involves replacing the subject and predicate of a proposition with their respective logical negations, thus creating a logically related but opposite statement.
Overall, whether discussing the front side of money or employing it figuratively, the term "obverse" conveys the idea of a contrasting, opposing, or counterbalancing element in relation to a particular context or proposition.
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• The face of a coin which bears the head or principal symbol, as opposed to the other side, called the reverse.
• Bearing the face; in bot., having the base narrower than the top, as in a leaf; having the point of the radicle in the seed approaching the hilum.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for OBVERSE
Etymology of OBVERSE
The word "obverse" originates from the Latin term "obversus", which is the past participle of "obvertere". "Obvertere" is a compound of two Latin words, "ob" meaning "against" or "opposite", and "vertere" meaning "to turn". So, the etymology of "obverse" reveals that it can be traced back to Latin and carries the meaning of something turned against or opposite. In the context of coinage or numismatics, the term "obverse" refers to the front or principal side of a coin, which often features the image of a ruler or a symbolic representation.
Similar spelling words for OBVERSE
- oversew,
- overspend,
- oversized,
- overstreet,
- overstate,
- oversee,
- oversea,
- overseas,
- overspread,
- overseer,
- overside,
- overstress,
- overstep,
- oberg,
- oversize,
- overshoe,
- oversewn,
- oversexed,
- oversleep.
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