adj. 1. Open and observable; not hidden, concealed, or secret: overt hostility; overt intelligence gathering. 2. Of, relating to, or being military or intelligence operations sanctioned or mandated by Congress: overt aid to the rebels. [Middle English, from Old French, past participle of ovrir, to open, from Vulgar Latin *ōperīre, alteration (influenced by Latin cōperīre, to cover) of Latin aperīre; see wer-4 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] o·vertly adv. o·vertness n. |
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