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Webster 1913 Edition

Perspective

Per-spec′tive

(pẽr-spĕk′tĭv)
,
Adj.
[L.
perspicere
,
perspectum
, to look through;
per
+
spicere
,
specere
, to look: cf. F.
perspectif
; or from E.
perspective
, n. See
Spy
,
Noun.
]
1.
Of or pertaining to the science of vision; optical.
[Obs.]
Bacon.
2.
Pertaining to the art, or in accordance with the laws, of perspective.
Perspective plane
,
the plane or surface on which the objects are delineated, or the picture drawn; the plane of projection; – distinguished from the
ground plane
, which is that on which the objects are represented as standing. When this plane is oblique to the principal face of the object, the perspective is called
oblique perspective
; when parallel to that face,
parallel perspective
.
–
Perspective shell
(Zool.)
,
any shell of the genus
Solarium
and allied genera. See
Solarium
.

Per-spec′tive

,
Noun.
[F.
perspective
, fr.
perspectif
: cf. It.
perspettiva
. See
Perspective
,
Adj.
]
1.
A glass through which objects are viewed.
[Obs.]
“Not a perspective, but a mirror.”
Sir T. Browne.
2.
That which is seen through an opening; a view; a vista.
“The perspective of life.”
Goldsmith.
3.
The effect of distance upon the appearance of objects, by means of which the eye recognizes them as being at a more or less measurable distance. Hence, aërial perspective, the assumed greater vagueness or uncertainty of outline in distant objects.
Aërial
perspective
is the expression of space by any means whatsoever, sharpness of edge, vividness of color, etc.
Ruskin.
4.
The art and the science of so delineating objects that they shall seem to grow smaller as they recede from the eye; – called also
linear perspective
.
5.
A drawing in linear perspective.
Isometrical perspective
,
an inaccurate term for a mechanical way of representing objects in the direction of the diagonal of a cube.
–
Perspective glass
,
a telescope which shows objects in the right position.

Webster 1828 Edition

Perspective

PERSPEC'TIVE

,
Adj.
[infra.] Pertaining to the science of optics; optical.
1.
Pertaining to the art of perspective.

PERSPEC'TIVE

,
Noun.
[L. perspicio; per and specio, to see.]
1.
A glass through which objects are viewed.
2.
The art of drawing on a plane surface true resemblances or pictures of objects, as the objects appear to the eye from any distance and situation, real and imaginary; as the rules of perspective.
3.
A representation of objects in perspective.
4.
View; vista; as perspectives of pleasant shades.
5.
A kind of painting, often seen in gardens and at the end of a gallery, designed expressly to deceive the sight by representing the continuation of an alley, a building, a landscape or the like.
Aerial perspective,the art of giving due diminution to the strength of light, shade and colors of objects, according to their distances and the quantity of light falling on them, and to the medium through which they are seen.

Definition 2024

perspective

perspective

English

Illustration of the use of perspective to create the perception of depth in a two-dimensional projection.

Noun

perspective ‎(plural perspectives)

  1. A view, vista or outlook.
  2. The appearance of depth in objects, especially as perceived using binocular vision.
  3. The technique of representing three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface.
  4. (figuratively) The choice of a single angle or point of view from which to sense, categorize, measure or codify experience.
  5. The ability to consider things in such relative perspective.
  6. A perspective glass.
    • Bishop Joseph Hall
      […] our predecessors; who could never have believed, that there were such lunets about some of the planets, as our late perspectives have descried […]
  7. A sound recording technique to adjust and integrate sound sources seemingly naturally.

Hyponyms

Derived terms

  • side-perspective

Related terms

Translations

Adjective

perspective ‎(not comparable)

  1. Of, in or relating to perspective.
    a perspective drawing
  2. (obsolete) Providing visual aid; of or relating to the science of vision; optical.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Francis Bacon to this entry?)

Translations

French

Pronunciation

Noun

perspective f ‎(plural perspectives)

  1. a perspective

Adjective

perspective

  1. feminine singular of perspectif

Portuguese

Verb

perspective

  1. first-person singular (eu) present subjunctive of perspectivar
  2. third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present subjunctive of perspectivar
  3. third-person singular (você) affirmative imperative of perspectivar
  4. third-person singular (você) negative imperative of perspectivar

Etymology

Middle English, attested since 1381, from Old - or Middle French, from the first word of the Medieval Latin perspectiva ars ‎(“science of optics”), the feminine of perspectivus ‎(“of sight, optical”), from perspectus, the past participle of perspicere ‎(“to inspect, look through”), itself from per- ‎(“through”) + specere ‎(“to look at”); the noun sense was influenced or mediated by Italian prospettiva, from prospetto ‎(“prospect”).

Pronunciation

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