overt

overt
    adj 1: open and observable; not secret or hidden; "an overt
           lie"; "overt hostility"; "overt intelligence gathering";
           "open ballots" [syn: {overt}, {open}] [ant: {covert}]
    

overt \o"vert\ ([=o]*v[~e]rt" or [=o]"v[~e]rt), a. [OF. overt,
   F. ouvert, p. p. of OF. ovrir, F. ouvrir, to open, of
   uncertain origin; cf. It. aprire, OIt. also oprire, L.
   aperire to open, operire to cover, deoperire to uncover.
   Perh. from L. aperire influenced by F. couvrir to cover. Cf.
   {Aperient}, {Cover}.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. Open to view; public; apparent; manifest. Opposite of
      {hidden}.
      [1913 Webster]

            Overt and apparent virtues bring forth praise.
                                                  --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Law) Not covert; open; public; manifest; as, an overt act
      of treason. --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

            No person shall be convicted of treason unless on
            the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt
            act, or on confession in open court. --Constitution
      of the U. S.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: In criminal law, an overt act is an open act done in
         pursuance and manifestation of a criminal design; the
         mere design or intent not being punishable without such
         act. In English law, market overt is an open market; a
         pound overt is an open, uncovered pound.
         [1913 Webster]
    

OVERT. Open. An overt act in treason is proof of the intention of the 
traitor, because it opens his designs; without an overt act treason cannot 
be committed. 2 Chit: Cr. Law, 40. An overt act then, is one which manifests 
the intention of the traitor, to commit treason. Archb. Cr. Pl. 379 4 Bl. 
Com. 79. 
     2. The mere contemplation or intention to commit a crime; although a 
sin in the sight of heaven, is not an act amenable to human laws. The were 
speculative wantonness of a licentious imagination, however dangerous, or 
even sanguinary in its object, can in no case amount to a crime. But the 
moment that any overt act is manifest, the offender becomes amenable to the 
laws. Vide Attempt; Conspiracy, and Cro. Car. 577. 
    

22 Moby Thesaurus words for "overt":
      apparent, bald, bare, clear, clear-cut, disclosed, evident,
      exposed, manifest, naked, observable, obvious, open, open as day,
      open to all, patent, plain, public, revealed, unclassified,
      unconcealed, visible