limpide

Limpide is a French adjective meaning clear, transparent, or free from ambiguity. It is used to describe physical matter such as water, glass, or air that is easily perceived or seen through, as well as figurative qualities such as prose, reasoning, or an idea that is easy to understand. In literary and everyday language, limpide conveys a sense of purity or unclouded clarity, often with a positive connotation of honesty or precision.

Etymology and related forms: Limpide derives from Latin limpidus, meaning clear or transparent, and arrived in French through historical stages of the language. In English, the cognate term limpid shares the same root, though limpide itself is primarily encountered in French usage. In French, the adjective has the same form for masculine and feminine singular (limpide) and adds -s for the plural (limpides), as in des eaux limpides or une prose limpide.

Usage notes: Limpide is commonly used for natural or manufactured media (eau limpide, verre limpide, ciel limpide) and for nonliteral clarity (un raisonnement limpide, une écriture limpide). It is closely related to synonyms such as transparent, clair, pellucid, and lucid, but limpide often emphasizes a natural, unimpeded transparency rather than merely perceptual sharpness.

See also: pellucid, lucid, transparent, clair, limpidity (English noun form referencing the same concept).