a. (sb.) Also 5 -paraunt, 6–7 -parant. [ad. med.L. transpārēntem, pr. pple. of transpārēre (= ‘pellūcēre’ Du Cange), f. TRANS- + pārēre to appear, be visible. In 15th c. app. stressed transparau·nt, after F. transparent (14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.).]
1. Having the property of transmitting light, so as to render bodies lying beyond completely visible; that can be seen through; diaphanous.
1413. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton), I. iii. (1859), 4. The erthe seemyd me al clere and transparaunt, soo that I myght see clerely al that was withynne.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), VI. 435. A vesselle made of onichinus, transparente, and polischede by so subtile an arte þat [etc.].
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. iii. 31. Nor shines the siluer Moone one halfe so bright, Through the transparent bosome of the deepe.
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 265. The Firmament, expanse of liquid, pure, Transparent, Elemental Air.
1712–4. Pope, Rape Lock, II. 61. Transparent forms, too fine for mortal sight.
1807. Transparent Prints [see TRANSPARENCY 2 b].
1813. Bakewell, Introd. Geol. (1815), 37. Uncrystallized quartz is seldom transparent, most frequently translucent, but sometimes opaque.
1868. Lockyer, Elem. Astron., iii. § 23 (1879), 125. Both head and tail [of a comet] are so transparent that all but the faintest stars are easily seen through them.
b. transf. Pervious to heat-rays.
1871. B. Stewart, Heat (ed. 2), § 178. It is probable that no substance is perfectly transparent with respect to heat.
1883. Illustr. Lond. News, 24 Feb., 203/3. A table of various substances, some of which are opaque to light and transparent to heat, and the reverse.
† c. That shines through; penetrating, as light.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. i. 353. Like to the glorious Sunnes transparant Beames.
1593. T. Watson, Tears of Fancie, xxxi. My loues transparent beames and rosy colour.
† d. Apparent or visible through something. Cf. TRANSPARE v. b. Obs.
1609. Daniel, Civ. Wars, IV. ii. Which, though … Thou ouerlay’st with fayrest colourings; Yet th’ vnder-worke, transparent, shewes too plaine.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 490, ¶ 7. To my fond Eyes she all transparent stood.
† e. Admitting the passage of light through interstices. Obs. rare.
1617. Moryson, Itin., III. 141. Not farre thence is a transparant and pleasant, but little Wood.
1693. Congreve, in Dryden’s Juvenal, XI. (1697), 280. He, whose thin transparent Rags, declare How much, his tatter’d Fortune wants repair.
2. fig. a. Frank, open, candid, ingenuous.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., II. ii. 104. Transparent Helena, nature shewes art, That through thy bosome makes me see thy heart.
1635. R. Carew, in Lismore Papers (1888), Ser. II. III. 217. They are very well beloued for their ciuill and transparent carriage towards all sorts.
1878. T. Hardy, Ret. Native, I. iv. An ingenuous, transparent life was disclosed.
1897. E. Peacock, N. Brendon, II. 306. She was transparent as the daylight.
b. Easily seen through, recognized, understood, or detected; manifest, evident, obvious, clear. Cf. APPARENT 3.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., I. ii. 96. Then turne teares to fire: And these who often drown’d could neuer die, Transparent Heretiques be burnt for liers.
1638. Chillingw., Relig. Prot., I. ii. § 150. 111. Your Argument against us, is a transparent fallacy.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 197, ¶ 5. In Courts, they make transparent Flatterers.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. v. 347. A transparent artifice … paralyses them.
1869. J. Martineau, Ess., II. 178. The fallacy of the remark is transparent.
1879. McCarthy, Own Times, II. xviii. 37. The transparent sincerity of his purpose.
