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perspective

1. A glass through which objects are viewed. Not a perspective, but a mirror.

2. That which is seen through an opening; a view; a vista. The perspective of life.

3. The effect of distance upon the appearance of objects, by means of which the eye recognised them as being at a more or less measurable distance. Hence, aerial perspective, the assumed greater vagueness or uncertainty of outline in distant objects. Aerial perspective is the expression of space by any means whatsoever, sharpness of edge, vividness of colour, etc. (Ruskin)

4. The art and the science of so delineating objects that they shall seem to grow smaller as they recede from the eye.

Synonym: linear perspective.

5. A drawing in linear perspective. Isometrical perspective, an inaccurate term for a mechanical way of representing objects in the direction of the diagonal of a cube. Perspective glass, a telescope which shows objects in the right position.

Origin: F. Perspective, fr. Perspectif: cf. It. Perspettiva. See Perspective.

1. Of or pertaining to the science of vision; optical.

2. Pertaining to the art, or in accordance with the laws, of perspective. Perspective plane, the plane or surface on which the objects are delineated, or the picture drawn; the plane of projection; distinguished from the ground plane, which is that on which the objects are represented as standing. When this plane is oblique to the principal face of the object, the perspective is called oblique perspective; when parallel]] to that face, parallel perspective.

(Science: zoology) Perspective shell, any shell of the genus solarium and allied genera. See Solarium.

Origin: L. Perspicere, perspectum, to look through; per _ spicere, specere, to look: cf. F. Perspectif; or from E. Perspective, n. See Spy.