camera
/ˈkæmərə/
noun
Origin
Latin
camera — vaulted chamber, room
Overview
Meaning Now
- A device for recording visual images in the form of photographs, film, or video signals.
- A private chamber or room, especially in a historical legal context.
Literal older meaning
vaulted room or chamber
Language path
Ancient Greek → Latin → English
Earliest form
camera obscura
Earliest period
18th century
Journey
The term originally referred to architectural spaces. During the Renaissance, the 'camera obscura' (dark room) became a popular tool for artists and scientists, eventually leading to the invention of photographic devices that captured the light within such a chamber.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
kamára
“vaulted chamber”
- Latin
camera
“vaulted room or enclosure”
- 17th Century
camera obscura
“darkened room with a lens to project images”
The precursor to the modern photographic camera.
- 19th Century
camera
“apparatus for capturing images”
Shortened from camera obscura.
Connections
Word parts
camera
root
vaulted chamber
Related across languages
Italian
room
Spanish
cámara
chamber/camera
Explore next
Related to camera
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.