oculus

[ ok-yuh-luhs ]

/ ˈɒk yə ləs /

Save This Word!

noun, plural oc·u·li

[ok-yuh-lahy]. /ˈɒk yəˌlaɪ/.

an eye.

Architecture. a circular opening, especially one at the apex of a dome.

Archaeology. a design representing an eye, as on funerary pottery found in megalithic tombs of Europe.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

Origin of oculus

<New Latin, Latin: eye

Et exitus aquarum deduxerunt oculi eius; et estuabat dolore cordis intrinsecus amarissimo.
Beowulf|R. W. Chambers
Avem Philomelam lingua carere pro certo affirmare possum, nisi me oculi fallunt.
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne (Volume 1 of 3)|Thomas Browne
Nec sicci sint oculi amisso amico, nec fluant; lacrimandum est, non plorandum.
Dderlein's Hand-book of Latin Synonymes|Ludwig Dderlein
There is, however, another muscle—the Retractor oculi—belonging to the same group which is innervated by the VIth nerve.
The Origin of Vertebrates|Walter Holbrook Gaskell

Cf. 'Non sicci sint oculi, amisso amico, nec fluant; lacrimandum est, non plorandum'; Epist.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 5 (of 7) -- Notes to the Canterbury Tales|Geoffrey Chaucer