PRIMA FACIE adjective (prahy-muh-shee-ee)

adjective
1. plain or clear; self-evident; obvious.

adverb
1. at first appearance; at first view, before investigation.


Quotes

McCain and Palin have been quoting this remark ever since, offering it as prima-facie evidence of Obama’s unsuitability for office.
--*Hendrik Hertzberg,*"Like, Socialism," The New Yorker, November 3, 2008


There was no prima-facie absurdity in his hypothesis—and experiment was the sole means of demonstrating its truth or falsity.
--*Thomas H. Huxley,*"William Harvey," Popular Science Monthly, March 1878



Origin

The English phrase prima facie is obviously Latin: prīmā faciē (ablative singular in form) means “at first sight.” (Faciēs has very many meanings: "physical or outward appearance, looks, sight, scene, good looks,….") It is not incredible that the English phrase at first blush is a literal translation of the Latin phrase: blush, a noun meaning "glance, sight," is obsolete except for the phrase at (on) (the) first blush. Prima facie entered English in the 15th century.