o·vert / ōˈvərt; ˈōvərt/ • adj. done or shown openly; plainly or readily apparent, not secret or hidden: an overt act of aggression in untreated cases, overt psychosis may occur.DERIVATIVES: o·vert·ly adv.o·vert·ness n.ORIGIN: Middle English: from Old French, past participle of ovrir ‘to open,’ from Latin aperire.

OVERT

Public; open; manifest.

The term overt is used in criminal law in reference to conduct that moves more directly toward the commission of an offense than do acts of planning and preparation that may ultimately lead to such conduct.

overt †open, uncovered; open to view or knowledge. XIV. — OF. overt (mod. ouvert), pp. of ovrir (ouvrir) open:- popL. *operīre for L. aperīre.

overt (oh-vert) adj. plainly to be seen or detected: applied to diseases with observable signs and symptoms.