Word Study
Aspect
CIDE DICTIONARY
Aspect, n. [L. aspectus, fr. aspicere, aspectum, to look at; ad + spicere, specere, to look, akin to E. spy.].
- The act of looking; vision; gaze; glance. Bacon. [1913 Webster]"His aspect was bent on the ground." [1913 Webster]
- Look, or particular appearance of the face; countenance; mien; air. Dryden. [1913 Webster]"[Craggs] with aspect open shall erect his head." [1913 Webster]
- Appearance to the eye or the mind; look; view. Macaulay. [1913 Webster]"The true aspect of a world lying in its rubbish." [1913 Webster]
- Position or situation with regard to seeing; that position which enables one to look in a particular direction; position in relation to the points of the compass; as, a house has a southern aspect, that is, a position which faces the south. [1913 Webster]
- Prospect; outlook. [1913 Webster]"This town affords a good aspect toward the hill from whence we descended." [1913 Webster]
- The situation of planets or stars with respect to one another, or the angle formed by the rays of light proceeding from them and meeting at the eye; the joint look of planets or stars upon each other or upon the earth. Milton. [1913 Webster]" The aspects which two planets can assume are five; sextile, /, when the planets are 60
" [1913 Webster] - The influence of the stars for good or evil; as, an ill aspect. Shak. [1913 Webster]"The astrologers call the evil influences of the stars evil aspects." Bacon. [1913 Webster]
- A view of a plane from a given direction, usually from above; more exactly, the manner of presentation of a plane to a fluid through which it is moving or to a current. If an immersed plane meets a current of fluid long side foremost, or in broadside aspect, it sustains more pressure than when placed short side foremost. Hence, long narrow wings are more effective than short broad ones of the same area. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
To behold; to look at. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Aspect, n.
1 a a particular component or feature of a matter (only one aspect of the problem). b a particular way in which a matter may be considered.
2 a a facial expression; a look (a cheerful aspect). b the appearance of a person or thing, esp. as presented to the mind of the viewer (has a frightening aspect).
3 the side of a building or location facing a particular direction (southern aspect).
4 Gram. a verbal category or form expressing inception, duration, or completion.
5 Astrol. the relative position of planets etc. measured by angular distance.
1 a a particular component or feature of a matter (only one aspect of the problem). b a particular way in which a matter may be considered.
2 a a facial expression; a look (a cheerful aspect). b the appearance of a person or thing, esp. as presented to the mind of the viewer (has a frightening aspect).
3 the side of a building or location facing a particular direction (southern aspect).
4 Gram. a verbal category or form expressing inception, duration, or completion.
5 Astrol. the relative position of planets etc. measured by angular distance.
Idiom
aspect ratio
1 Aeron. the ratio of the span to the mean chord of an aerofoil.
2 Telev. the ratio of picture width to height.
1 Aeron. the ratio of the span to the mean chord of an aerofoil.
2 Telev. the ratio of picture width to height.
Derivative
aspectual adj. (in sense 4).
Etymology
ME f. L aspectus f. adspicere adspect- look at (as AD-, specere look)
THESAURUS
Aspect
adjunct, air, angle, appurtenance, article, astrodiagnosis, astrology, astromancy, attitude, attribute, azimuth, bearing, bearings, case, celestial navigation, characteristic, circumstance, complexion, component, configuration, constituent, contents, count, countenance, datum, dead reckoning, desiderative, detail, effect, eidolon, element, exposure, face, facet, fact, factor, fashion, feature, figure, fix, fixings, form, frequentative, frontage, genethliac astrology, genethliacism, genethliacs, genethlialogy, gestalt, guise, hand, horoscope, horoscopy, house, image, imago, imperfective, impression, inchoative, incidental, ingredient, instance, integrant, interpretation, item, iterative, lay, lie, light, likeness, line of position, lineaments, look, makings, manifestation, manner, mansion, matter, mien, minor detail, minutia, minutiae, mundane astrology, mundane house, nativity, natural astrology, orientation, outlook, part, part and parcel, particular, perfective, phase, phasis, pilotage, planetary house, point, point of view, port, position, position line, presence, prospect, quality, radio bearing, reference, regard, respect, seeming, semblance, set, shape, side, simulacrum, slant, specialty, standpoint, stargazing, style, thing, total effect, twist, view, viewpoint, visage, wise, zodiacROGET THESAURUS
Aspect
State
N state, condition, category, estate, lot, ease, trim, mood, pickle, plight, temper, aspect, dilemma, pass, predicament, constitution, habitude, diathesis, frame, fabric, stamp, set, fit, mold, mould, mode, modality, schesis, form, tone, tenor, turn, trim, guise, fashion, light, complexion, style, character, conditional, modal, formal, structural, organic, conditionally, as the matter stands, as things are, such being the case.Situation
N situation, position, locality, locale, status, latitude and longitude, footing, standing, standpoint, post, stage, aspect, attitude, posture, pose, environment, surroundings (location), circumjacence, place, site, station, seat, venue, whereabouts, ground, bearings, spot, topography, geography, chorography, map, situate, situated, local, topical, topographical, in situ, in loco, here and there, passim, hereabouts, thereabouts, whereabouts, in place, here, there, in such and such surroundings, in such and such environs, in such and such entourage, amidst such and such surroundings, amidst such and such environs, amidst such and such entourage.Appearance
N appearance, phenomenon, sight, spectacle, show, premonstration, scene, species, view, coup d'oeil, lookout, outlook, prospect, vista, perspective, bird's-eye view, scenery, landscape, picture, tableau, display, exposure, mise en sc ne, rising of the curtain, phantasm, phantom, pageant, spectacle, peep-show, raree-show, gallanty-show, ombres chinoises, magic lantern, phantasmagoria, dissolving views, biograph, cinematograph, moving pictures, panorama, diorama, cosmorama, georama, coup de theatre, jeu de theatre, pageantry, insignia, aspect, angle, phase, phasis, seeming, shape, guise, look, complexion, color, image, mien, air, cast, carriage, port, demeanor, presence, expression, first blush, face of the thing, point of view, light, lineament feature trait lines, outline, outside, contour, face, countenance, physiognomy, visage, phiz, cast of countenance, profile, tournure, cut of one s jib, metoposcopy, outside, apparent, seeming, ostensible, on view, apparently, to all seeming, to all appearance, ostensibly, seemingly, as it seems, on the face of it, prima facie, at the first blush, at first sight, in the eyes of, to the eye, editio princeps.For further exploring for "Aspect" in Webster Dictionary Online