invisible

Etymology

From Middle English invisible, from Old French invisible, from Late Latin invīsibilis. Displaced native Old English unġesewenlīċ. Morphologically in- + visible.

adj

1. Unable to be seen; out of sight; not visible.
   Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close (less than half a meter) above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them. 2013 May-June, William E. Conner, “An Acoustic Arms Race”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, pages 206–7
   The teeth on an invisible zip are different from those on a conventional zip, as they are turned onto the inside so that they do not show, giving the impression of being concealed in the seam, as seen below. 2013, Jayne Smith, Guide to Basic Garment Assembly for the Fashion Industry, page 60
   Soon after departure, we cross the invisible border into Scotland to enjoy more stunning coastal scenery, before the line finally swings inland at Burnmouth to traverse pine-clad valleys, shadowed by the A1 trunk road until we rejoin the coast at Cove, east of Dunbar. November 30 2022, Paul Bigland, “Destination Oban: a Sunday in Scotland”, in RAIL, number 971, page 75
2. Not appearing on the surface.
3. (Internet) Apparently, but not actually, offline.
   I went invisible so that my ex-girlfriend wouldn't send me instant messages.
4. (psychology) That is ignored by a person.

verb

1. To make invisible, to invisiblize.
   In the next section I look at some of the factors that contribute to the “invisibling” of people in later life in terms of the marginalization and splitting that occurs in providing decent psychological as well as physical care. 2007, Rachael Davenhill, Looking into Later Life

noun

1. (obsolete) An invisible person or thing; specifically, God, the Supreme Being.
2. (obsolete) A Rosicrucian; so called because avoiding declaration of his craft.
3. (obsolete) One of those (as in the 16th century) who denied the visibility of the church.
   Invisibles. Heretics who denied the visibility of the Church 1872, Orby Shipley, A Glossary of Ecclesiastical Terms