aspectn.
/ˈaspɛkt/, U.S. /ˈæˌspɛk(t)/ I. The action of looking at.† 1. † 2. Mental looking, sight; consideration, regard, respect. Obsolete.† 3. A looking for anything, expectation. Obsolete.
a. The action of looking at anything; beholding, contemplation; gaze, view. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > [noun] > looking at or beholding
beholdinga1225
considerationc1386
advisementa1393
aspecta1398
especcion14..
viewc1450
contemplationc1500
looking ona1516
viewing1548
eyeing1550
perspectionc1550
theoria1590
conspection1611
onlooking1637
spectation1638
aspection1646
prospecting1677
onlook1800
spectating1942
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. iii. vi. 95 He haþ twey maner aspect, for he biholdeþ þe ouer þinges..and..þe neþer þinges.
1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie ii. vii. 117 That which we haue by plaine aspect and intuitiue beholding.
1614 B. Rich Honestie of Age (1844) 12 You good and gracious women..let mee intreat your fauourable aspect.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §924 The tradition..that the basilisk killeth by aspect.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 539. ⁋1 The downcast Eye, and the Recovery into a sudden full Aspect.
1810 S. T. Coleridge Friend (1867) i. xiv. 62 The plain aspect or intuitive beholding of truth in its eternal and immutable Source [cf. quot. 1593].
b. A look, a glance. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > a look or glance > [noun]
eie wurpc950
laitc1175
looka1200
lecha1250
sightc1275
insighta1375
blushc1390
castc1400
glentc1400
blenkc1440
regardc1450
ray1531
view1546
beam of sight1579
eye-beam1583
eyewink1591
blink1594
aspecta1616
benda1616
eyeshot1615
eye-casta1669
twire1676
ken1736
Magdalene-look1752
glimmering1759
deek1833
wink1847
deck1853
vision1855
pipe1865
skeg1876
dekko1894
screw1904
slant1911
gander1914
squiz1916
butcher's hook1934
butcher's1936
gawk1940
bo-peep1941
nose1976
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) ii. ii. 114 Some other Mistresse hath thy sweet aspects . View more context for this quotation
1644 H. Parker Jus Populi 17 Borrowing resplendence like the Moon from the Suns aspect.
1711 Steele No. 87. ⁋8 To receive kind Aspects from those little Thrones.
1858 O. W. Holmes Autocrat of Breakfast-table xi. 323 Meeting the cold aspect of Duty.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > [noun]
gomec1175
thoughtc1175
tenta1300
curec1300
intentc1320
keepa1325
heed1357
attendancec1374
attentionc1374
aspect1393
marka1400
notea1400
advertencea1413
markingc1443
regard1457
advertisementc1487
noticec1487
attent?a1500
advertation?c1500
respect1509
garda1569
intendiment1590
on-waiting1590
attend1594
tendment1597
attending1611
fixationa1631
adversion1642
heeding1678
attendancya1680
perpensity1704
observe1805
intending1876
1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 143 In thin aspect ben alle aliche The pouer man and eke the riche.
1509 H. Watson tr. S. Brant Shyppe of Fooles (1517) sig. Mi O foole, haue aspect vnto that whiche thou commyttest.
1509 H. Watson in tr. S. Brant Shyppe of Fooles (de Worde) Argt. sig. A*.i Hauynge aspecte vnto ye capacyte of my tendre yeres.
1668 J. Denham Cooper's Hill Ded., in Poems sig. A4 Those latter parts..have not yet received Your Majesties favourable Aspect.
1673 R. Allestree Ladies Calling ii. ii. §23. 73 Whatever duty is perform'd to Man with aspect on God, he owns as to himself.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > [noun] > instance of
expectation1523
looking for1532
aspect1587
looking forwarda1646
prejudice1748
1587 S. Forman Autoniogr. & Diary (1849) 18. §3 I was discharged..contrary to the aspecte of all men.
II. Way of looking, as to position or direction.† 8. The point from which one looks; a point of sight or of view. Obsolete. rare.
4. Astrology. The relative positions of the heavenly bodies as they appear to an observer on the earth's surface at a given time. (properly, The way in which the planets, from their relative positions, look upon each other, but popularly transferred to their joint look upon the earth.)See quot. 1594. Conjunction and opposition, the former especially, were often not reckoned aspects.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > planet > position of planet > aspect > [noun]
aspecta1398
conspect1398
radiation1555
configuration1559
positure1610
familiarity1679
ray1679
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. viii. ix. 465 Coniunctioun and apposicioun beþ..somtyme..iclepid aspectis be misvsinge of þat name ‘aspecte’.
c1400 ( G. Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) ii. §4. 19 Conforted with frendly aspectys of planetes.
c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 229 Som wikked aspect or disposicioun Of Saturne.
1559 D. Lindsay Test. Papyngo l. 133 in Wks. (1931) I The bad espect of Saturne wes appesit.
1594 T. Blundeville Exercises vi. x. f. 311 The Characters of which aspects are these here following: ☌ ☍ ∆ □ ✶. Whereof the first signifieth a Coniunction, the second an opposition, the third a trine aspect, the fourth a quadrat aspect, and the fift a sextile aspect.
1597 F. Bacon Of Coulers Good & Euill f. 26, in Ess. The Sunne..is good by aspect, but euill by coniunction.
1609 C. Tourneur Funerall Poeme sig. C2v Partes, bodies, figures, aspects, distances.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida (1623) i. iii. 92 Corrects the ill Aspects of Planets euill.
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar iii. 24 Sisera fought when their was an evill aspect or malignant influence of heaven upon him.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 658 Thir planetarie motions and aspects In Sextile, Square, and Trine, and Opposite. View more context for this quotation
1681 G. Wharton Planetary Aspects in Wks. (1683) 90 Kepler defines an aspect..an Angle made in the Earth by the Luminous Beams of two Planets, of strength to stir up the vertue of all sublunary things.
1708 J. Swift Elegy on Mr Patrige (single sheet) He Mars would join To Venus in Aspect Mali'n.
1819 J. Wilson Compl. Dict. Astrol. 100 Many authors deny the conjunction to be an aspect, because the stars do not behold each other, but their influence is on the Earth, which they behold with a conjunct aspect.
5.
a. A looking in a given direction; the facing or fronting of anything, as a house, a window, or a steep or sloping surface, in any direction; exposure.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > [noun] > aspect or direction faced
exposure1664
aspect1667
exposition1688
expositure1798
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 541 The setting Sun..with right aspect Against the eastern Gate of Paradise. View more context for this quotation
a1745 J. Swift Will in Wks. XIII. 156 A strong wall, faced to the south aspect with brick.
1849 M. Somerville On Connexion Physical Sci. (ed. 8) xxvi. 291 Aspect..has also a great influence [on line of perpetual snow].
1864 R. Kerr Gentleman's House 88 The aspect of a room is the relation of its windows to sunshine and weather.
b. aspect ratio n. (a) Aeronautics the ratio of the span to the mean chord of an aerofoil; also, the ratio of the square of the span to the total area of the aerofoil; (b) of a television or cinematographic picture: the ratio of the width to the height.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > broadcasting > television > visual element > [noun] > television picture or image > ratio of width to height
aspect ratio1907
society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > qualities and parameters of aircraft > [noun] > ratio of span to area or chord
aspect ratio1907
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > cinematography > a film > [noun] > ratio of width to height
aspect ratio1907
Academy ratio1954
1907 F. W. Lanchester Aerodynamics vi. 208 The normal pressure is a continuous function of the aspect ratio of the plane.
1910 R. W. A. Brewer Art of Aviation xvii. 232 Aspect ratio is the ratio of the length of span to that of chord.
1930 Flight 21 Feb. 234/1 As regards the aero-dynamic efficiency of the Do.X, the aspect ratio (if one may be so old-fashioned as to use this expression) is low.
1936 Electronics June 28/1 The formula used is f = ½ (no. lines) × aspect ratio × (no. pictures per second), where the aspect (width to height) ratio is 4/3.
1957 S. W. Amos & D. C. Birkinshaw Television Engin. I. i. 29 For a given number of lines and aspect ratio the bandwidth occupied by the components of the video signal is directly proportional to the picture frequency.
6. The side or surface which fronts or is turned towards any given direction.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > [noun] > aspect or direction faced > part having specific aspect
aspect1849
1849 Johnston in Hist. Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 2 vii. 372 Legs..armed with short bristles..on the inner aspect.
1854 J. Scoffern in Orr's Circle Sci., Chem. Chem. 218 The lower aspect of the cover..becomes vitreously electrified.
1881 G. Busk in Jrnl. Microsc. Sc. Jan. 4 On the dorsal aspect the zoœcia present a still greater peculiarity.
7. The direction in which a thing has respect or practical bearing; bearing upon, reference to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > [noun] > relation to something or reference
respitea1382
beholdingc1449
respect1485
aspect1509
regardc1520
reference1581
referrance1583
tending1587
reflection1614
intuition1626
concernment1640
concerning1642
tendency1651
influence1672
re1707
view1719
bearing1741
ref1845
concern1863
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure x. iii Gyvyng them place after the aspect.
1657 O. Cromwell Speech 20 Apr. Divers things..which I hope have a public aspect.
1660 E. Waterhouse Disc. Arms & Armory 4 Things that have no direct aspect on peace.
1710 H. Prideaux Orig. & Right Tithes ii. 35 It had a general aspect to all Mankind.
1836 J. Gilbert Christian Atonem. vi. 230 The aspect of atonement is obviously towards creatures; working effects on them, not on God.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > place where view obtained > [noun]
sightc1515
standing point1606
station1659
aspect1660
point of view1701
viewpoint1839
visual point1842
standpoint1843
eye-point1875
1660 Bp. J. Taylor Worthy Communicant i. §15. 91 The beholders..as they stand in several aspects and distances, some see red and others..nothing but green.
9.
a. One of the ways in which things may be looked at or contemplated, or in which they present themselves to the mind; a phase.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > school of thought > [noun] > way of thinking > aspect of
phasis1665
aspect1824
phase1843
stripe1853
syndrome1955
1824 T. F. Dibdin Libr. Compan. 247 Their rarity and intrinsic worth render them acceptable under any aspect.
1870 F. C. Bowen Logic viii. 188 Merely two aspects of one and the same thought.
b. Grammar. In Russian and other Slavonic languages, a verbal category of which the function is to express action or being in respect of its inception, duration, or completion, etc.; by extension applied to such forms in other languages.The earlier term in Slavonic grammars was ‘branch’.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > aspect > [noun]
aspect1853
Aktionsart1897
1853 C. P. Reiff Eng.-Russ. Gram. i. 86 The aspects have not all the same number of tenses; the imperfect aspect is used in all the three tenses; the perfect is employed in the preterit and future, while the iterative is met with only in the preterit.
1884 J. Nestor-Schnurmann Russ. Man. 97 The variations in form of the same action are expressed by what is called in Russian branches or aspects..of a verb... There are four branches, viz.: the Indefinite, the Perfect, the Semelfactive.., and the Iterative... A Fifth Aspect might be added, viz.: the Inchoative.
1889 W. R. Morfill Gram. Russ. Lang. 35 Verbs of this class [sc. perfective and imperfective] are said to be arranged according to their aspects.
1921 E. Sapir Lang. v. 114 Aspect is expressed in English by all kinds of idiomatic turns.
1924 O. Jespersen Philos. Gram. xx. 286 It is generally assumed that our Aryan languages had at first no real forms in their verbs for tense-distinctions, but denoted various aspects, perfective, imperfective, punctual, durative, inceptive, or others.
III. Appearance.† 13. concrete. A thing seen, a sight; an appearance.
10. The look which one wears; expression of countenance; countenance, face.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > [noun] > facial appearance or expression
cheerc1225
lookinga1325
countenancec1330
frontc1374
looka1400
looksc1400
aspect1590
brow1598
cast1653
mien1680
expression1830
1590 C. Marlowe Tamburlaine: 1st Pt. sig. B Thy martiall face and stout aspect.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice i. i. 54 Of such vinigar aspect, That theyle not shew theyr teeth in way of smile. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 336 But soon his cleer aspect Return'd. View more context for this quotation
1794 S. Williams Nat. & Civil Hist. Vermont 152 Much time was spent to give his countenance the aspect he aimed at.
1817 Ld. Byron Manfred iii. iv. 76 Ah! he unveils his aspect: on his brow The thunder-scars are graven.
a1850 D. G. Rossetti Dante & Circle (1874) i. 231 And for that thine aspèct gives sign thereof.
11. The appearance presented by an object to the eye; look.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > [noun]
onseneeOE
bleea1000
shapeOE
ylikeOE
laitc1175
semblanta1225
sightc1275
fare1297
showingc1300
specea1325
parelc1330
guise1340
countenance1362
semblance?a1366
apparel1377
regardc1380
apparencec1384
imagec1384
spicec1384
overseeminga1398
kenninga1400
seemingc1400
visage1422
rinda1450
semenauntc1450
'pearance1456
outwardc1475
representation1489
favour?a1500
figurea1522
assemblant1523
prospect?1533
respect1535
visure1545
perceiverance1546
outwardshine1549
view1556
species1559
utter-shape1566
look1567
physiognomy1567
face1572
paintry1573
visor1575
mienc1586
superficies?1589
behaviour1590
aspect1594
complexion1597
confrontment1604
show1604
aira1616
beseeminga1616
formality1615
resemblancea1616
blush1620
upcomea1630
presentment1637
scheme1655
sensation1662
visibility1669
plumage1707
facies1727
remark1748
extrinsica1797
exterior1801
showance1820
the cut of one's jib1823
personnel1839
personal appearance1842
what-like1853
look-see1898
outwall1933
visuality1938
prosopon1947
1594 T. Lodge & R. Greene Looking Glasse sig. A4 And thou bright Venus for thy cleare aspect.
1690–1 Lady Russell Lett. 119 II. 84 Spots..with such an aspect, that the doctor thought it the small-pox.
1738 J. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) iii. No. 104 The Moon's inconstant Aspect.
1781 J. Moore View Soc. Italy (1790) I. i. 5 The venerable aspect of the Churches.
1876 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People i. §2. 10 The physical aspect of the country.
12. The appearance presented by circumstances, etc., to the mind.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > [noun] > aspect(s) (of circumstances)
aspect1693
1693 J. Locke Some Thoughts conc. Educ. §145 (Axtell ed.) Arguings of Men of Parts, shewing the different Sides of things, and their various Aspects, and Probabilities.
1706 W. Penn in Mem. Hist. Soc. Pennsylvania (1872) X. 102 Matters seem to look of a better aspect.
1883 J. Gilmour Among Mongols xviii. 210 The superficial aspects of Buddhism.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > [noun]
i-sightc888
sightc950
regard1586
aspectc1600
observed1604
visiona1616
landscape1659
eyefula1808
visibilia1936
c1600 J. Davies in E. Farr Sel. Poetry Reign Elizabeth (1845) I. 250 To view perspicuously this sad aspect.
1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 30 That he saw such Aspects..I never believ'd.
14. Ecology. The characteristic seasonal appearance or constitution of a plant community.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > by habitat or distribution > [noun] > community or association > appearance of
physiognomy1845
aspect1905
1905 F. E. Clements Res. Methods Ecol. iv. 296 The seasonal changes of a formation, which are called aspects, are indicated by changes in composition or structure, which ordinarily correspond to the three seasons, spring, summer, and autumn.
1916 F. E. Clements Plant Succession vii. 132 In boreal and alpine regions the number of aspects is often but two, vernal and æstival, and the societies correspond.
1926 A. G. Tansley & T. F. Chipp Aims & Methods Study Vegetation ii. 17 The word ‘aspect’ is used as a technical term for the seasonal phases of vegetation. Thus we speak of the prevernal, vernal, æstival, autumnal and hiemal aspects of British vegetation. Societies dominated by species vegetating at particular seasons are often called aspect societies.
1952 P. W. Richards Trop. Rain Forest viii. 191 The Tropical Rain forest..has no marked seasonal ‘aspects’ and no ‘resting’ period.
15. In Signalling: an indication given by means of a light (see quot. 1936).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > rail travel > railway system or organization > [noun] > types of signal system > indication given by light signal
aspect1926
1926 D. R. Lamb Mod. Railway Operation xiii. 152 The colour light signal is now generally adopted in connection with power installations. The type which has so far found favour in Great Britain is that giving three aspects, green, orange and red, signifying, respectively, ‘all right’, ‘caution’ and ‘danger’.
1936 Gloss. Terms Railway Signalling (B.S.I.) 47 Signal aspects, a term used to describe light indications of signals as opposed to indications given by semaphore arms.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† aspectv.
Obsolete.
1. To look for, expect. [Perhaps < Old French especter = expecter ; compare aspect n. 3.]
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expect [verb (transitive)]
weenOE
weenc1000
thinklOE
lookc1225
hopec1330
trusta1387
wait onc1390
supposea1393
to wait after ——1393
to look after ——c1400
thinkc1480
attend1483
suppone1490
expect1535
to expect for1538
aspect1548
respect1549
look1560
ween1589
attend1591
propose1594
await1608
to presume on, upon, or of1608
to look forwards1637
prospect1652
to look for ——a1677
augur1678
anticipate1749
to look to ——1782
spect1839
contemplate1841–8
to look forward1848
eye1979
1548 Hall's Vnion: Richard III f. lv Frendes which daily did aspect & tarie for his commyng.
1608 T. Hudson tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Ivdith iv. 64 in J. Sylvester Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) Then may wee well aspect Great good of her.
2. To look at, behold, face; to survey, watch.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (transitive)] > look at or behold
to look to ——eOE
showeOE
lookeOE
lookOE
behold971
beseec1000
seeOE
to see on ——OE
yseeOE
yseeOE
belookc1175
to look against ——c1225
to lay eyes onc1230
biwaita1250
holde1303
aseea1325
to see upon ——a1350
rewardc1350
to look of ——?c1400
eyea1425
visage1450
aviewa1513
gove1513
regard1523
to look unto ——1545
respect1567
survise1600
aspect1610
reflect1611
inspeculate1694
spectate1709
to look for ——1786
deek1825
lookit1908
lamp1916
1610 J. Guillim Display of Heraldrie vi. v. 266 As if they were worne by two persons aspecting or beholding each other.
1625 Darcie Hist. Q. Eliz. Ep. Ded. Those which aspect the beames of the Sunne..thinke a long time after they behold still a Sunne before their eyes.
1682 G. D. Seasonable Caution North to South 4 When I look back for to aspect These Days.
1692 W. Temple Ess. Heroick Virtue iv, in Miscellanea: 2nd Pt. (ed. 3) 231 Those People whom The Northern Pole Aspects.
3. Of a planet: To look upon, or be situated towards, another, in one of the ‘Aspects’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > planet > position of planet > aspect > [verb]
aspect1579
1579 T. Lupton Thousand Notable Things ii. 36 Iupiter..being euyl aspected of an Infortunate planet.
1652 J. Gaule Πυς-μαντια 264 Venus in termes, and in the house of Saturne..Mars aspecting.
1671 W. Salmon Synopsis Medicinæ ii. xv. 183 If the Moon upon a Critical day be well aspected of good Planets, it goes well with the Sick.
4. To look on with favour, to countenance. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > favour > win favour with [verb (transitive)] > favour
to let well ofc1330
favour1340
to take, accept, receive in greec1374
likea1393
smilec1400
to take agreea1425
agreec1450
to fawn on, upon1477
to bear good mind toa1516
to look upon ——c1515
to look on ——1540
vouchsafe1582
conceit1589
relish1594
to look to ——1611
impatronize1629
aspect1663
sympathize1828
to put one's money on1847
1663 J. Heath Flagellum (1672) 144 What opinion Cromwel best aspected.
5. intransitive. To look; to have an aspect or bearing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > have (specific) appearance [verb (intransitive)]
looka1225
to make semblantc1290
to make or show (a specified) semblancea1387
showc1480
show1526
eyea1616
aspect1635
face1669
regard1820
feature1941
1635 D. Person Varieties ii. 69 The countrey over which it [the comet] blazeth, or to which it aspecteth.
1651 N. Bacon Contin. Hist. Disc. Govt. 32 The influence of Society..principally aspected upon some Pleas belonging to the Crowne.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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