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the·od·o·lite

(thē-ŏdl-īt′)

An optical instrument consisting of a small mounted telescope rotatable in horizontal and vertical planes, used to measure angles in surveying.

[Probably coined by Leonard Digges (1520-1559), English mathematician and surveyor, as the name of a device for measuring horizontal angles, perhaps from Greek theā, a viewing + a second element of unknown origin.]

the·od′o·litic (-lĭtĭk) adj.

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theodolite

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

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The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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