at first glance

glance ¹  (glns)

v. glanced, glanc·ing, glanc·es

v.intr.

1.

a. To direct the gaze briefly: glance at the menu; glanced in the rearview mirror.

b. To move rapidly from one thing to another. Used of the eyes.

2. To shine briefly; glint. See Synonyms at flash.

3. To strike a surface at such an angle as to be deflected: A pebble glanced off the windshield. See Synonyms at brush¹.

4. To make a passing reference; touch briefly: a history course that only glanced at the Korean conflict.

v.tr.

1. To strike (a surface) at an angle; graze: The arrow glanced the target but didn't stick.

2. To cause to strike a surface at an angle: glanced a stone off the wall.

n.

1. A brief or cursory look: gave the paper a glance before breakfast.

2. A quick flash of light; a gleam.

3. An oblique movement following impact; a deflection: The car struck the barrier and went off at a glance.

Idiom:

at first glance

On initial consideration: At first glance the plan seemed unworkable.

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[Middle English glauncen, alteration (influenced by glenten, to shine) of glacen, from Old French glacer, to slide; see glacis.]

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glance ²  (glns)

n.

Any of various minerals that have a brilliant luster: silver glance.

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[German Glanz, from Middle High German glanz, from Old High German, bright; see ghel-² in Indo-European roots.]

Thesaurus

Adv.

1.

at first glance - immediately; "it was love at first sight" at first sight