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n. 1. a. A view or vista. b. A mental view or outlook: "It is useful occasionally to look at the past to gain a perspective on the present" (Fabian Linden). 2. The appearance of objects in depth as perceived by normal binocular vision. 3. a. An understanding of how aspects of a subject relate to each other and to the whole: a perspective of history; a need to view the problem in the proper perspective. b. Subjective evaluation of relative significance; a point of view: the perspective of the displaced homemaker. c. 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 the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] per·spectiv·al adj. per·spective·ly adv. |
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