— perspectival , adj. — perspectived , adj. — perspectiveless , adj. — perspectively , adv.
/peuhr spek"tiv/ , n.
1. a technique of depicting volumes and spatial relationships on a flat surface. Cf. 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.
adj.
8. of or pertaining to the art of perspective, or represented according to its laws.
[ 1350-1400; ME perspectiva ( ars ) optical (science), perspectivum optical glass, n. uses of fem. and neut. of perspectivus optical, equiv. to L perspect-, ptp. s. of perspicere to look at closely (see PER-, INSPECT) + -ivus -IVE ]