sight (subs.) Copy link Outline I. The act or sense of seeing1. vīsus, ūs2. the sense, sensus videndi3. aspectus, ūs (strictly in relation to an object, s., as engaged in looking at something4. meton.5. ăcies, ēi (strictly, keenness of s.)II. View, range of s.1. conspectus, ūs2. aspectus, us (rare in this sense)III. A look, notice from seeingIV. That which is seen1. spectācŭlum2. spĕcies, ēi (appearance, phenomenon)3. făcies, ēi4. perh. aspectus5. expr. by verb or phr. • sight (subs.): I. The act or sense of seeing: 1. vīsus, ūs: to impinge upon the eyes and excite the sense of s., oculos ferire v.que lacessere, Lucr. 4, 217: (a body) revealed by s. and touch, visu tactuque manifestum, Quint. 1, 4, 20: to be deprived of s., visu privari, Wyttenb. in Kr. 2. the sense, sensus videndi: Cic. de Or. 2, 87, 357 (sensus acerrimus ex omnibus sensibus est sensus videndi): so, sensus oculorum, id. Div. 1, 32, 71. 3. aspectus, ūs (strictly in relation to an object, s., as engaged in looking at something: freq. in Cic., who avoids the use of visus): all things which are objects of s., i. e. visible, quae sub aspectum veniunt, id. de Or. 2, 87, 358: cf. id. Tusc. 1, 30, 73, where aspectum amittere is applied to those who from fixing the eyes upon the sun have become incapable of seeing anything: the taste, smell, s. of fruit, pomorum gustatus, odoratus, a., id. N. D. 2, 63, 158. 4. meton.: ŏcŭlus, ŏcŭli: to lose the s. of one eye, (alterum) oculum amittere, Cic. Div. 1, 24, 48: altero oculo capi, Liv. 22, 2, extr.: the s. of his right eye was always defective, nunquam dextro o. aeque bene usus est, Nep. Han. 4: to have remarkably keen s., oculos acres atque acutos habere, Cic. Pl. 27, 66 (fig. sense). 5. ăcies, ēi (strictly, keenness of s.): more fully, acies oculorum: unimpaired (goodness of) s., incolumis a., id. Fin. 5, 28, 84 (opp. to caecitas, blindness): to elude (the keenest) s., a. fugere, id. Tusc. 1, 22, 50: the fuller form should be used where any ambiguity might arise: cf. Caes. B. G. 1, 39. Phr.: to have as keen s. as Lynceus, oculis tantum quantum Lynceus contendere posse, cf. Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 28: tam perspicacem esse quam Lynceus fuit (v. sharp-sighted): not to have very good s., (oculis) parum acute (clare) cernere: v. to see. II. View, range of s.: 1. conspectus, ūs: to be carried out of s. of land, e c. terrae auferri, Liv. 29, 27: to come into any one's s., alicui in c. prodire, Ter. Ph. 2, 4, 3: dare se in c. alicui, ib. 2, 1, 31. 2. aspectus, us (rare in this sense): the circles which bound our s., orbes qui a. nostrum definiunt, Cic. Div. 2, 44, 92. Phr.: to live in the s. of one's fellow-countrymen (in publicity and popularity), in oculis civium vivere, Cic. Off. 3, 1, 3: to get a s. of any one (coming within view in the distance), conspicari aliquem, Liv. 2, 20, init.: Caes.: Sall. (not conspicere in this sense). III. A look, notice from seeing: aspectus: at first s. [contrasted with fuller knowledge], primo a., Cic. N. D. 2, 35, 90 (not conspectus in this sense): somewhat different is Br. 64, 200, non assidens et attente audiens sed uno aspectu et praeteriens de oratore judicat, i. e. at the very first glance, with a single look. Phr.: to know any one by s., aliquem de facie nosse, Cic. Pis. 32, 81: at first s., prima specie (lit. from the first appearance of a thing, objectively: whereas primo aspectu [v. supr.] refers to the act of looking at it, subjectively), Cic. Fin. 4, 22, 61: also, prima fronte, Quint. 7, 1, 56 (better than prima facie, which, however, occurs Gai. Inst. 4, 1): a thing wins our affection at first s., aliquid statim conspectum voluntatem conciliat amoremque adjungit, Muret. (R. and A.): to pay at s., or in cash, repraesentare pecunias, Cic. Att. 12, 25. IV. That which is seen: 1. spectācŭlum: a pretty s., lepidum s., Pl. Poen. 1, 1, extr.: a splendid s., magnificum s., Liv. 10, 40: v. spectacle, show. 2. spĕcies, ēi (appearance, phenomenon): novel and unwonted s., nova atque inusitata s., Caes. B. G. 2, 31: v. appearance. 3. făcies, ēi: a comely s., decora f., Plin. Pan. 56: Sil. 4. perh. aspectus: cf. Cic. Ph. 2, 29, 73, auctionis vero miserabilis aspectus, i. e. it was a pitiable s. (yet the word has not even here strictly an objective force). 5. expr. by verb or phr.: a frightful s., (acies) visu torva, Tac. G. 31: piteous s.! miserabile visu! Virg. Aen. 1, 111: here a still more surprising s. meets our eyes, hic aliud majus (nobis) objicitur, ib. 2, 199: what more delightful s. can there be? quid potest esse aspectu pulchrius? Cic. Sen. 15, 53: by this unexpected s., quo repentino objectu viso, Nep. Han. 5 (avoid, however, the use of objectus alone = species): ah me, what a s. was he! hei mihi, qualis erat! Virg. Aen. 2, 274: what sadder s. did I see ...? quid vidi crudelius? ib. 746.
SIGHT Copy link • SIGHTPower of seeing, visus: sensus videndi, cernendi: sensus oculorum. A short sight, oculi non longe conspectum ferentes: a good sight, oculi acres et acuti (which see clearly); acies incolumis: inoffensum oculorum lumen (as good as ever it was): a bad sight, oculi hebetiores; obtusior or hebes oculorum acies: to lose one’s sight, aspectum, or oculos, or oculorum lumina amittere; oculos perdere; oculis capi: to recover one’s sight, oculi alicui restituuntur: anybody’s sight is growing bad, visus or oculorum acies hebescit [Vid: EYE]. As a sensation, conspectus (also, the sphere of our view). To get sight of anything, aliquid conspicere; cadit or datur mihi aliquid in conspectum: to lose sight of land (of ships), e conspectu terrae auferri: to vanish out of anybody’s sight, abire ex oculis alicujus; recedere e alicujus conspectu (by removal to a distance): to shun or avoid the sight of anybody, alicujus oculos or aspectum vitare; fugere alicujus conspectum; alicujus aspectu se subtrahere († withdraw from, not choose to be near): get out of my sight, age illuc, abscede procul e conspectu meo (comedy): to fly from anybody’s sight, evolare e conspectu quasi fugientem (of a fast-sailing ship): to come in sight, sub oculos cadere; in oculos cadere, incurrere; sub aspectum cadere or venire; aspectu sentiri; in aciem prodire: beautiful to the sight, pulcher or venustus ad aspectum (Cic.): as fur as our sight reaches, quo longissime oculi conspectum ferunt (Liv.): to be in sight, in conspectu esse: to be within sight of the town, esse in oppidi conspectu (Cic.). Act of seeing, or state of being seen, aspectus (actively, the act of seeing): conspectus (passively, the state of being seen; hence, also, appearance, and the sphere of our vision): obtutus (in a neuter sense, “the look”). OBS. intuitus is late. To know anybody by sight, aliquem de facie nosse: not to know anybody by sight, ignorare aliquem (Nep., Arist. 1, 4): the frequent sight of anything, consuetudo oculorum: at first sight, primo aspectu; prima specie: anything wins our affection at first sight, aliquid statim conspectum voluntatem conciliat amoremque adjungit (Muret.): to decide a question or form an opinion on any subject at first sight, uno adspectu et quasi praeteriens judicare de re (Cic.); ex prima statim fronte judicare (Quint.): at sight (in “payable at sight”), perhaps *die praesenti; die oculata (Plaut., Pseud., 1, 3, 67; is “with pay-day definitely before one’s eyes,” “for ready money;” opposed to die caeca); cognitis his litteris (on reading this instruction or mercantile advice); *cognita hac syngrapha. A thing seen, species (appearance): aspectus, -ūs (how anything looks): spectaculum (an exhibition, also a theatrical spectacle): objectus, -ūs (Nep.; coming upon us suddenly). A pleasant sight, aspectus jucundus: spectaculum gratum: to present a melancholy sight, triste spectaculum praebere alicui: tristem esse aspectu: to bear the sight of pain, terror, etc., speciem doloris, terroris, ferre or sustinere: it was a pleasant sight to the populace, gratum id spectaculum multitudini fuit (Liv.): a very interesting sight, conspectus jucundissimus (Cic.): a magnificent sight, spectaculum magnificum (Curt.): a sad or piteous sight, miserabilis facies (Curt.); miserabilis (rei) aspectus (Cic.): a sudden or unexpected sight, repentinus objectus (Nep.): to present a hideous sight, deformem turpemque aspectum habere: to see a sad sight, luctuosum spectaculum videre (Cic.): what sadder sight have we ever seen? quid miserius, quid acerbius vidimus? there is no sight more beautiful than that of a well-cultivated field, agro bene culto nihil potest esse specie ornatius (Cic.): what a sight! quale spectaculum! quae facies! o spectaculum magnificum! o speciem miseram tristemque! at this unexpected sight, quo repentino objectu viso (Nep., Hann., 5, 2). In a trigonometrical instrument, *dioptra (δίοπτρα).