lorgnette

American  

[lawrn-yet] / lɔrnˈyɛt /

noun

1. a pair of eyeglasses mounted on a handle.

2. a pair of opera glasses mounted on a handle.

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lorgnette British  

/ lɔːˈnjɛt /

noun

1. a pair of spectacles or opera glasses mounted on a handle

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Etymology

Origin of lorgnette

1795–1805; < French, derivative of lorgner to eye furtively; see -ette

Explanation

An old-fashioned type of glasses that you hold up to your eyes with a handle is called a lorgnette. You might see a lady with a lorgnette enjoying the opera in an old movie. Lorgnettes were originally a type of jewelry, rather than functional eyeglasses. Later, they were used to enhance vision but considered more fashionable than spectacles that hooked over the ears. The disadvantage of a lorgnette is that you have to hold it up to your eyes in order to see clearly. The word comes from the French verb lorgner, "to squint," and lorgne, which means both "squinting" and also "cross-eyed or foolish."

Example Sentences

Originally voiced by Jerry Nelson, she sometimes wears a horn-rimmed lorgnette, fans herself with plastic and sings torchy, bluesy songs.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2022

Ms. Hamill’s distinctive spin is to read “Pride and Prejudice” through the lorgnette of game theory.

From New York Times • Nov. 19, 2017

Here is Smith, sans magic wand, sans the pearls and lorgnette, facing the camera as an unadorned suburban housewife telling her story of hope and desperation with only her voice and facial expressions.

From Washington Post • Dec. 28, 2015

He won a national student design competition two years running, once for a white desk phone that had a handset with a long handle, like a lorgnette.

From The New Yorker • Feb. 16, 2015

“Something new, Edna?” exclaimed Miss May- blunt, with lorgnette directed toward a magnificent cluster of diamonds that sparkled, that almost sputtered, in Edna’s hair, just over the center of her forehead.

From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin

Related Words

• specs
• sunglasses