lorgnetten.
/lɔːˈnjɛt/, U.S. /lɔrˈnjɛt/ a. A pair of eye-glasses held in the hand, usually by a long metal, ivory, or tortoiseshell handle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > ophthalmology or optometry > aids to defective vision > [noun] > spectacles > lorgnette
lorgnette1803
starer1894
lorgnon1898
1776 Monthly Rev. 53 536 Concerning Achromatic spying Glasses... We have thus translated the word Lorgnettes.]
1803 Lett. Miss Riversdale III. 320 Mr. Drummore moved on..with his lorgnette to his eye, scrutinising every dish.
1820 J. Hogg in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 6 392 When eyes meet eyes, what need of Lorgnette?
1882 W. Ballantine Some Exper. Barrister's Life vii. 72 The court was crowded with ladies..furnished with lorgnettes.
1952 H. Innes Campbell's Kingdom 75 To my astonishment she quizzed me through a gold lorgnette as I entered the room.
1970 V. Canning Great Affair vi. 104 My aunt..favoured Edwardian dress.., feathered hats, lorgnettes, [etc.].
b. An opera-glass.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > optical instruments > instrument for distant vision > [noun] > opera glass(es)
opera glass1738
lorgnon1846
lorgnette1859
jumelle1865
1859 G. A. Sala Twice round Clock 253 Surveyed, through powerful-lensed lorgnettes.
Derivatives
lorˈgnetted adj. furnished with lorgnettes.
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1860 All Year Round 21 Apr. 34 Down the staircase came the..crinolined, lorgnetted, opera-cloaked..throng.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1903; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1803