different between patently vs plainly

English

Etymology

patent +? -ly

Pronunciation

Many speakers prefer to use the long a pronunciation of the homograph patent in its sense meaning "open" or "clear", whereas the short a pronunciation is the norm for its sense meaning "a government-issued temporary monopoly on an idea" (the senses are cognate but long since differentiated). In this view, prescriptively, the adverb patently is best pronounced with a long a, although descriptively it is true that speakers often pronounce it with a short a. See patent § Pronunciation, patent § Etymology 1, and patent § Etymology 2.

Adverb

patently (comparative more patently, superlative most patently)

1. In a clear and unambiguous manner.

Usage notes

Some adjectives commonly collocating with patently: obvious, clear, wrong, incorrect, false, true

Synonyms

• expressly, unambiguously, demonstrably; see also Thesaurus:explicitly

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English playnly, pleinly, pleyneliche, equivalent to plain +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ple?nli/

Adverb

plainly (comparative plainlier or more plainly, superlative plainliest or most plainly)

1. In a plain manner; simply; basically.
2. Obviously; clearly.

Synonyms

• (obviously, clearly): expressly, unambiguously; see also Thesaurus:explicitly or Thesaurus:obviously

Translations