optistn.
Misreading or mistranslation of Latin opticus; cf. quot. 1639:
1639 Gate of Tongues Unlocked (ed. 4) lxxvi. 162 An Opticke [L. opticus] or speculative man searcheth discernable rayes or beams, and visible objects; Discerning why some are shining bright and clear, others shadowed and duskish,..and according thereunto framing perspective glasses.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > one skilled in optics > [noun]
optic1613
optist1640
optician1672
opticist1884
1640 tr. J. A. Comenius Janua Linguarum Reserata (new ed.) lxxvi. §769 An Optist [L. opticus] searcheth into raies [i.e. sunbeams] that are for sight, and any thing set before the eye, that may be seen;..and accordingly he frameth spectacles and perspective glasses.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online December 2019).
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n.1640