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perspectives

 - 4 dictionary results
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Book about the World Christian Movement. 804 pages of articles.
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per⋅spec⋅tive

  [per-spek-tiv]
–noun
1. a technique of depicting volumes and spatial relationships on a flat surface. Compare aerial perspective, linear perspective.
2. a picture employing this technique, esp. one in which it is prominent: an architect's perspective of a house.
3. a visible scene, esp. one extending to a distance; vista: a perspective on the main axis of an estate.
4. the state of existing in space before the eye: The elevations look all right, but the building's composition is a failure in perspective.
5. the state of one's ideas, the facts known to one, etc., in having a meaningful interrelationship: You have to live here a few years to see local conditions in perspective.
6. the faculty of seeing all the relevant data in a meaningful relationship: Your data is admirably detailed but it lacks perspective.
7. a mental view or prospect: the dismal perspective of terminally ill patients.
–adjective
8. of or pertaining to the art of perspective, or represented according to its laws.
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Origin:
1350–1400; ME < ML perspectīva (ars) optical (science), perspectīvum optical glass, n. uses of fem. and neut. of perspectīvus optical, equiv. to L perspect-, ptp. s. of perspicere to look at closely (see per-, inspect ) + -īvus -ive

Related forms:
per⋅spec⋅tiv⋅al, adjective
per⋅spec⋅tived, adjective
per⋅spec⋅tive⋅less, adjective
per⋅spec⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To perspectives
Buy-Perspectives Reader
Book about the World Christian Movement. 804 pages of articles.
www.missionbooks.org
per·spec·tive   (pər-spěk'tĭv)   
n.  

    1. A view or vista.

    2. A mental view or outlook: "It is useful occasionally to look at the past to gain a perspective on the present" (Fabian Linden).

    3. The relationship of aspects of a subject to each other and to a whole: a perspective of history; a need to view the problem in the proper perspective.

    4. Subjective evaluation of relative significance; a point of view: the perspective of the displaced homemaker.

    5. The ability to perceive things in their actual interrelations or comparative importance: tried to keep my perspective throughout the crisis.

  2. The appearance of objects in depth as perceived by normal binocular vision.

    1. The relationship of aspects of a subject to each other and to a whole: a perspective of history; a need to view the problem in the proper perspective.

    2. Subjective evaluation of relative significance; a point of view: the perspective of the displaced homemaker.

    3. The ability to perceive things in their actual interrelations or comparative importance: tried to keep my perspective throughout the crisis.

  4. The technique of representing three-dimensional objects and depth relationships on a two-dimensional surface.

adj.  Of, relating to, seen, or represented in perspective.

[Middle English, science of optics (influenced by French perspective, perspective), from Medieval Latin perspectīva (ars), feminine of perspectīvus, optical, from perspectus, past participle of perspicere, to inspect : per-, per- + specere, to look; see spek- in Indo-European roots.]
per·spec'tiv·al adj., per·spec'tive·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Cultural Dictionary

perspective

In drawing or painting, a way of portraying three dimensions on a flat, two-dimensional surface by suggesting depth or distance.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

perspective 
c.1380, "science of optics," from O.Fr. perspective, from M.L. perspectiva ars "science of optics," from fem. of perspectivus "of sight, optical" from L. perspectus, pp. of perspicere "inspect, look through," from per- "through" + specere "look at" (see scope (1)). Sense of "art of drawing objects so as to give appearance of distance or depth" is first found 1598, influenced by It. prospettiva, an artists' term. The fig. meaning "mental outlook over time" is first recorded 1762.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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