Noun

1. A window that has an oval or circular shape (as of an eye).
2. A circular hypaethral opening at the apex of a dome.

   One can glimpse the sky through the oculus of the Pantheon in Rome.

Etymology

Noun

1. an eye
   • by Cicero (Latin text and English translations may be found here)

     Quam diu quisquam erit qui te defendere audeat, vives, et vives ita ut nunc vivis, multis meis et firmis praesidiis obsessus ne commovere te contra rem publicam possis. Multorum te etiam oculi et aures non sentientem, sicut adhuc fecerunt, speculabuntur atque custodient.

     As long as one person exists who can dare to defend you, you shall live; but you shall live as you do now, surrounded by my many and trusty guards, so that you shall not be able to stir one finger against the republic: many eyes and ears shall still observe and watch you, as they have hitherto done, though you shall not perceive them.

2. the power of sight
3. a spot resembling an eye, such as on a peacock feather
4. a bud, bulb on a root
5. the mind's eye

Related terms

• oculāriārius
• oculāre
• oculāriter
• oculāta

Descendants

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