Etymologically
Log in

perspectivus

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 24 October 2026 at 18:53. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Forms

perspectīvus (feminine perspectīva, neuter perspectīvum); first/second-declension adjective[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin perspectus (“clearly seen”), the past participle of perspiciō (“to look through, examine”), with the suffix -īvus.[2][3] The TLL counts it among the words of the Middle Ages.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Gaffiot cites it from Boethius in the sense “relating to perspective”;[1] Köbler's first dated record is from 1267.[2]

Semantic evolution

In the Middle Ages it belonged to the science of sight: ars or scientia perspectiva was optics,[5][3] and the feminine alone, perspectiva, became its name.[5][3] Used as a masculine noun, it meant a student of optics.[5] In Polish documents it also meant done with one's own eyes, as of an inspection.[6]

Through Medieval Latin and Old French it gave English perspective, first the science of optics.[3]

Timeline

  • 1267 – Köbler's first dated record.[2]
  • after 1381 – A British text speaks of a principle of the ars perspectiva.[5]
  • 1454 – A Polish record uses it of an inspection made with one's own eyes.[6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Relating to perspective or optics.[1][5][2]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Done with one's own eyes.[6]

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin, masculine) A student of optics.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  2. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  5. ^ a b c d e f Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  6. ^ a b c d Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl