anamorphosis

[an-uh-mawr-fuh-sis, -mawr-foh-sis]

noun

plural

anamorphoses 

1. a drawing presenting a distorted image that appears in natural form under certain conditions, as when viewed at a raking angle or reflected from a curved mirror.

2. the method of producing such a drawing.

3. Zoology, Entomology.,  the gradual change in form from one type to another during the evolution of a group of organisms.

4. (in certain arthropods) metamorphosis in which body parts or segments are added to those already present.

anamorphosis

/ -mɔːˈfəʊsɪs, ˌænəˈmɔːfəsɪs /

noun

1. optics

   1. an image or drawing distorted in such a way that it becomes recognizable only when viewed in a specified manner or through a special device

   2. the process by which such images or drawings are produced

2. the evolution of one type of organism from another by a series of gradual changes

Word History and Origins

Origin of anamorphosis¹

1720–30; < Greek, equivalent to anamorphō- (variant stem of anamorphoûn to transform; ana-, morpho- ) + -sis -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of anamorphosis¹

C18: from Greek, from anamorphoun to transform, from morphē form, shape

Related Words

• deformation 
• deformity