First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1perspective
noun per·spec·tive \pər-ˈspek-tiv\
Definition of PERSPECTIVE
archaic : an optical glass (as a telescope)
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Origin of PERSPECTIVE
Rhymes with PERSPECTIVE
2perspective
noun per·spec·tive \pər-ˈspek-tiv\
Definition of PERSPECTIVE
1
a : the technique or process of representing on a plane or curved surface the spatial relation of objects as they might appear to the eye; specifically : representation in a drawing or painting of parallel lines as converging in order to give the illusion of depth and distance b : a picture in perspective
2
a : the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed <places the issues in proper perspective>; also : point of view b : the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance <trying to maintain my perspective>
3
4
: the appearance to the eye of objects in respect to their relative distance and positions
— per·spec·tiv·al \pər-ˈspek-ti-vəl, ˌpər-(ˌ)spek-ˈtī-vəl\ adjective
Examples of PERSPECTIVE
- The elegant economy of the drawing and the wild inventiveness of such pictorial devices as the towering pitcher's mound and the impossible perspective of Snoopy's doghouse keep the repetitiveness, talkiness, and melancholy of the strip a few buoyant inches off the ground, and save it from being fey. —John Updike, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2007
- Courses offer an international perspective, so even a lesson on the American Revolution will interweave sources from Britain and France with views from the Founding Fathers. —Claudia Wallis et al., Time, 18 Dec. 2006
- Tipper and I still marvel at everything we saw and the perspective it offered. At a moment when the country was still in the throes of the conflict over Vietnam, it was refreshing to see the best of America. —Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, 2006
- [+]more
Origin of PERSPECTIVE
Middle French, probably modification of Old Italian prospettiva, from prospetto view, prospect, from Latin prospectus — more at prospect
First Known Use: 1563
3perspective
adjective per·spec·tive \pər-ˈspek-tiv\
Definition of PERSPECTIVE
1
obsolete : aiding the vision <his eyes should be like unto the wrong end of a perspective glass — Alexander Pope>
2
: of, relating to, employing, or seen in perspective <perspective drawing> (see 2perspective)
— per·spec·tive·ly adverb
Origin of PERSPECTIVE
Middle English, optical, from Medieval Latin perspectivus
First Known Use: 1570
PERSPECTIVE[1] Defined for Kids
perspective
noun per·spec·tive \pər-ˈspek-tiv\
Definition of PERSPECTIVE for Kids
1
: the angle or direction in which a person looks at an object
2
3
: the ability to understand what is important and what isn't <I know you're disappointed, but keep your perspective.>
4
: an accurate rating of what is important and what isn't <Let's keep things in perspective.>
5
: the art of painting or drawing a scene so that objects in it seem to have their right shape and to be the right distance apart
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