pan·op·tic \(ˈ)pa|näptik\adjective alsopan·op·ti·cal\-tə̇kəl\ Etymology: Greek panoptēs all-seeing (from pan- + optos visible, verbal of opsesthai to be going to see) + -ic or -ical — more at optic 1.: comprising all in one view : all-seeing < a panoptic study of Soviet nationality — T.G.Winner > 2.: permitting everything to be seen < microscopic study of tissues treated with a panoptic stain >