An eye for an eye definition

eye

[ahy]

noun, plural eyes, (Archaic

) ey⋅en or eyne; verb, eyed, ey⋅ing or eye⋅ing.

–noun

the organ of sight, in vertebrates typically one of a pair of spherical bodies contained in an orbit of the skull and in humans appearing externally as a dense, white, curved membrane, or sclera, surrounding a circular, colored portion, or iris, that is covered by a clear, curved membrane, or cornea, and in the center of which is an opening, or pupil, through which light passes to the retina.

2.	the aggregate of structures situated within or near the orbit that assist, support, or protect the eye.

3.	this organ with respect to the color of the iris: blue eyes.

4.	the region surrounding the eye: a black eye; puffy eyes.

5.	sight; vision: a sharp eye.

6.	the power of seeing; appreciative or discriminating visual perception: the eye of an artist.

7.	a look, glance, or gaze: to cast one's eye at a beautiful necklace.

8.	an attentive look, close observation, or watch: to be under the eye of a guard.

9.	regard, view, aim, or intention: to have an eye to one's own advantage.

10.	a manner or way of looking at a thing; estimation; opinion: in the eyes of the law.

11.	a center of light, intelligence, influence, etc.

12.	something resembling or suggesting the eye in appearance, shape, etc., as the opening in the lens of a camera, a peephole, or a buttonhole.

13.

Botany.

a.	the bud of a potato, Jerusalem artichoke, etc.

b.	a small, contrastingly colored part at the center of a flower.

14.	the central spot of a target; bull's-eye.

15.	a choice center cut of meat: an eye of round; the eye of the rib.

16.	one of the round spots on the tail feathers of a peacock.

17.	the hole in a needle.

18.	a hole made in a thing for the insertion of some object, as the handle of a tool: the eye of an ax.

19.	a metal or other ring through which something, as a rope or rod, is passed.

20.	the loop into which a hook is inserted.

21.	Electronics. a photoelectric cell or similar device used to perform a function analogous to visual inspection.

22.	Building Trades. a ring on the end of a tension member, as an eye bar or eye bolt, for connection with another member.

23.	a hole formed during the maturation of cheese, esp. Emmenthaler or Gruyère.

24.	a loop worked at the end of a rope.

25.	Meteorology. the approximately circular region of relatively light winds and fair weather found at the center of a severe tropical cyclone.

26.	eyes, Nautical. the extreme forward part of the upper deck at the bow of a vessel.

27.	Nautical. the precise direction from which a wind is blowing.

–verb (used with object)

28.	to fix the eyes upon; view: to eye the wonders of nature.

29.	to observe or watch narrowly: She eyed the two strangers with suspicion.

30.	to make an eye in: to eye a needle.

–verb (used without object)

31.	Obsolete. to appear to the eye.

—Idioms

32.	an eye for an eye, repayment in kind, as revenge for an injustice.

33.	be all eyes, to give all one's attention to something; look intently.

34.	catch someone's eye, to draw or attract someone's attention: to catch the waiter's eye.

35.	give (someone) the eye, Informal. to look fixedly at (another person), esp. with obvious admiration; ogle: She ignored the men who were giving her the eye.

36.	have an eye for, to have the ability to appreciate distinctions in; be discerning or perceptive about: She has an eye for antique furniture.

37.

have eyes only for,

a.	to want no other person or thing but: She was always surrounded by admirers, but she had eyes only for Harry.

b.	to see, or view, or desire to see only.

Also, only have eyes for.

38.	in a pig's eye, Slang. absolutely not; never: In a pig's eye I will!

39.	keep an eye on, to watch over attentively: Please keep an eye on my plants while I'm away.

40.	keep an eye out for, to be vigilant in looking or watching for: The announcer told his listeners to keep an eye out for the escaped criminal.

41.	keep one's eye on the ball, to remain attentive; be especially alert.

42.	keep one's eyes open, to be especially alert or observant.

43.	lay, clap, or set eyes on, Informal. to catch sight of; see: They had never laid eyes on such a big car before.

44.	make eyes at, to gaze flirtatiously or amorously at.

45.	my eye! Informal. (a mild exclamation of contradiction or surprise): He says he wasn't told about this? My eye!

46.	open one's eyes, to bring someone to a realization of the truth or of something previously unknown: A trip through Asia opened his eyes to the conditions under which millions had to live.

47.	pick the eyes out, Australia and New Zealand. to select the best parts or items.

48.	run one's eye over, to glance briefly at; examine hastily.

49.	see eye to eye, to have exactly the same opinion; agree: They have never been able to see eye to eye on politics.

50.	see with half an eye, to see or realize immediately or with ease: Anyone can see with half an eye that the plan is doomed to fail.

51.	shut one's eyes to, to refuse to see or consider; disregard: We can no longer shut our eyes to the gravity of the situation.

52.	sight for sore eyes, a welcome sight; a pleasant surprise: After our many days in the desert, the wretched village was a sight for sore eyes.

53.	with an eye to, with a plan or purpose of: with an eye to one's future.

54.	with one's eyes open, aware of the inherent or potential risks: She signed the papers with her eyes open.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME eie, ie, OE ēge, var. of ēage; c. G Auge; akin to L oculus, Gk

ps, Skt akṣi

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Cite This Source

Sponsored Links Eye An Eye An
Discover Your Deal. Save on Eye An Eye An!
Shopzilla.com

Eye For Eye
Eye For Eye Online. Shop Target.com.
www.Target.com

Eye For Eye
Low Prices, Huge Selection. Save on Eye For Eye.
www.Half.com/DVDs

eye (ī) Pronunciation Key

(click for larger image in new window)

n.

An organ of vision or of light sensitivity.
1. Either of a pair of hollow structures located in bony sockets of the skull, functioning together or independently, each having a lens capable of focusing incident light on an internal photosensitive retina from which nerve impulses are sent to the brain; the vertebrate organ of vision.
2. The external, visible portion of this organ together with its associated structures, especially the eyelids, eyelashes, and eyebrows.
3. The pigmented iris of this organ.
4. A way of regarding something; a point of view: To my eye, the decorations are excellent.
5. Attention: The lavish window display immediately got my eye.
6. Watchful attention or supervision: always under his boss's eye; kept an eye on her valuables.
7. An opening in a needle.
8. The aperture of a camera.
9. A loop, as of metal, rope, or thread.
10. A circular marking on a peacock's feather.
11. Chiefly Southern U.S. The round flat cover over the hole on the top of a wood-burning stove. Also called regionally cap¹, griddle.
12. A bud on a twig or tuber: the eye of a potato.
13. The often differently colored center of the corolla of some flowers.
14. Meteorology The circular area of relative calm at the center of a cyclone.
15. The center or focal point of attention or action: right in the eye of the controversy.
The faculty of seeing; vision.
The ability to make intellectual or aesthetic judgments: has a good eye for understated fashion.
1. A way of regarding something; a point of view: To my eye, the decorations are excellent.
2. Attention: The lavish window display immediately got my eye.
3. Watchful attention or supervision: always under his boss's eye; kept an eye on her valuables.
4. An opening in a needle.
5. The aperture of a camera.
6. A loop, as of metal, rope, or thread.
7. A circular marking on a peacock's feather.
8. Chiefly Southern U.S. The round flat cover over the hole on the top of a wood-burning stove. Also called regionally cap¹, griddle.
9. A bud on a twig or tuber: the eye of a potato.
10. The often differently colored center of the corolla of some flowers.
11. Meteorology The circular area of relative calm at the center of a cyclone.
12. The center or focal point of attention or action: right in the eye of the controversy.
Something suggestive of the vertebrate organ of vision, especially:
1. An opening in a needle.
2. The aperture of a camera.
3. A loop, as of metal, rope, or thread.
4. A circular marking on a peacock's feather.
5. Chiefly Southern U.S. The round flat cover over the hole on the top of a wood-burning stove. Also called regionally cap¹, griddle.
6. A bud on a twig or tuber: the eye of a potato.
7. The often differently colored center of the corolla of some flowers.
8. Meteorology The circular area of relative calm at the center of a cyclone.
9. The center or focal point of attention or action: right in the eye of the controversy.
A photosensitive device, such as a photoelectric cell.
Botany
1. A bud on a twig or tuber: the eye of a potato.
2. The often differently colored center of the corolla of some flowers.
3. Meteorology The circular area of relative calm at the center of a cyclone.
4. The center or focal point of attention or action: right in the eye of the controversy.
1. Meteorology The circular area of relative calm at the center of a cyclone.
2. The center or focal point of attention or action: right in the eye of the controversy.
Informal A detective, especially a private investigator.
A choice center cut of meat, as of beef: eye of the round.

tr.v. eyed, eye·ing or ey·ing (ī'ĭng), eyes

To look at: eyed the passing crowd with indifference.
To watch closely: eyed the shark's movements.
To supply with an eye.

[Middle English, from Old English ēge, ēage; see ok^w- in Indo-European roots.]

an eye for an eye

The principle of justice that requires punishment equal in kind to the offense (not greater than the offense, as was frequently given in ancient times). Thus, if someone puts out another's eye, one of the offender's eyes should be put out. The principle is stated in the Book of Exodus as “Thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”