defendo, offendo

From Middle English manifest, manifeste, from Latinmanifestus, manufestus (“palpable, manifest”), from manus(“hand”) + *infestus, participle of *infendō (“strike”) (from the root of dēfendō, offendō, etc.), or from Proto-Indo-European*dʰers-. Doublet of manifesto.

The word “manifest” comes from the Latin word “manifestus”, meaning “clear, evident, obvious.” It is derived from the combination of:

• “manus”, meaning “hand,” and

• “festus”, which likely relates to “struck” or “seized.”

The idea behind “manifestus” was something that is so clear or obvious that it is as if it is “struck by the hand” or tangible to the touch.

In Middle English, “manifest” entered through Old French in the 14th century, carrying the meaning “readily perceived or understood.” Over time, it has evolved to include the noun and verb forms, as in a “manifest” (a list or document) or to “manifest” (to display or reveal).