telescope
/ˈtɛlɪskoʊp/
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
τηλε- (tēle) + σκοπεῖν (skopein) — far + to look
Overview
Meaning Now
- An optical instrument designed to make distant objects appear nearer, containing an arrangement of lenses or curved mirrors and lenses by which rays of light are collected and focused.
Literal older meaning
to view from afar
Language path
Ancient Greek → New Latin → Italian → English
Earliest form
telescopio
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term was coined in 1611 by Greek mathematician Giovanni Demisiani at a banquet in Rome celebrating Galileo Galilei's election to the Accademia dei Lincei. It combined Greek roots to describe the revolutionary new instrument used to observe the heavens.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
tēle- + skopein
“looking at a distance”
Classical roots for 'far' and 'examine/look'.
- 17th century Italian
telescopio
“optical device for seeing distant objects”
Coined at the Accademia dei Lincei.
- 17th century English
telescope
“instrument for viewing stars/distant objects”
Borrowed via New Latin or Italian.
- 19th century English
telescope
“a device that slides together like a tubular instrument”
Extended meaning based on the structure of draw-tube telescopes.
Connections
Word parts
tele-
prefix
far
-scope
root
look, view
Related across languages
Italian
telescopio
telescope
French
télescope
telescope
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.