perspective

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

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
  • (General American) IPA(key): /pɚˈspɛktɪv/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun

perspective (countable and uncountable, 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. (dated) An artwork that represents three-dimensional objects in this way.
  5. (figuratively) The choice of a single angle or point of view from which to sense, categorize, measure or codify experience.
  6. The ability to consider things in such relative perspective.
  7. 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 […]
  8. A sound recording technique to adjust and integrate sound sources seemingly naturally.

Hyponyms

Derived terms
  • side-perspective

Translations
perspective glass — see perspective glass
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.
Translations to be checked

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
  • IPA(key): /pɛʁ.spɛk.tiv/
  • Audio(file)

Noun

perspective f (plural perspectives)

  1. a perspective
  2. a prospect
    Elle était très effrayée par la perspective de perdre son emploi. - She was frightened at the prospect of losing her job.

Adjective

perspective

  1. feminine singular of perspectif

Further reading

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
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