| 释义 |
panopticon|pænˈɒptɪkən|
[f. Gr. παν- + ὀπτικόν neuter of ὀπτικός of or for sight: cf. πάνοπτος fully seen or visible.]
1. a. The name given by Bentham to a proposed form of prison of circular shape having cells built round and fully exposed towards a central ‘well’, whence the warders could at all times observe the prisoners. Also attrib. or as adj.
The Penitentiary, Millbank, London, was originally constructed according to Bentham's plan.
1791Bentham (title) Panopticon; or, the Inspection-House. Ibid. i. Postscr. 86 In a Panopticon prison..there ought not any where be a single foot square, on which man or boy shall be able to plant himself..under any assurance of not being observed. 1813Edin. Rev. XXII. 19 The Panopticon was to be open at all times to every magistrate; and at certain hours to the public generally. 1818Hazlitt Eng. Poets v. (1870) 128 He..superintends, as in a panopticon, a select circle of rural malefactors. 1882Mrs. Oliphant Lit. Hist. Eng. III. 310 Bentham's Panopticon.
b. fig. and transf. A place where everything is visible; a show-room for novelties.
1850Deed of Settlement of Royal Panopticon of Science & Art 1 Royal Panopticon of Science and Art. An institution for Scientific exhibitions and for promoting discoveries in arts manufactures. 1851J. Hamilton Roy. Preacher xix. (1854) 239 From this panopticon of all the possible, His holy wisdom chose the best. 1882Ogilvie (Annandale), Panopticon..2. An exhibition room for novelties. Art Journal.
2. Name given to an optical instrument. (In quot. 1768, app. a kind of telescope.)
1768Franklin Lett. Wks. 1840 V. 420 Mr. Martin, when I called to see his panopticon, had not one ready. 1871Routledge's Ev. Boy's Ann. Mar. Suppl. 1/1 Statham's ‘Panopticon’..a powerful achromatic Telescope and Microscope combined. |