What does 如此 mean in 表示显然如此或确实?

Question

In the following sentence that explains the usage of 明明:

表示显然如此或确实，下文的意思往往转折。

The meaning would be something like the following:

It shows obviousness or such, or certainity. After the word usually comes the turnover's meaning.

But I don't understand why it needs 如此 here, and what it works for.

In my understanding, 如此 is used to emphasize an adjective or adverb, and put before the adjective or adverb to mean "so" (equal to 很). But in this case it is put after the word.

Does it have any difference on the meaning with or without 如此? What nuances does it carry?

Answer 1

Literally, 如 means "like" and 此 means "this".

如此 as a verb means 是这样, (something) to be the case.

Answer 2

In this case, 如此 has to be there and can't be dropped.

表示显然如此 means denote obviously like that/this.

Answer 3

This is just dictionary language, short and direct, not prose. People I asked had no problem with removing 如此, which, as Jason said is quite literally 'like this', 显然如此 = clearly / evidently / obviously so

‘明明’表示显然如此或确实，下文的意思往往转折。
‘明明’表示显然———或确实，下文的意思往往转折。

You could expand the dictionary speak to:

‘明明’表示一件事情、一个情况是显然的或者确实的，在其后的正文通常出现转折。

你明明就知道什么。说话！ You obviously know something. Tell me!