oculist
Americannoun
Related Words
See eye doctor.
Other Word Forms
- oculistic adjective
Etymology
Origin of oculist
First recorded in 1590–1600; French oculiste; see ocul-, -ist
Explanation
People who lived in previous centuries who had trouble seeing street signs, reading small print, or suddenly had horrible eye pain, would have visited an oculist. This was a doctor who dealt with eye disorders. The root word, oculus, is Latin for “eye.” Oculist is actually a rather out-dated and old-fashioned term. Now, the more popular names for these kinds of doctors are ophthalmologist and optometrist. Ophthalmologists deal with more serious problems and diseases. Optometrists address less serious issues, perform vision tests, and prescribe corrective lenses.
Vocabulary lists containing oculist
The Great Gatsby
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Miracle Worker
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Some Latin-based Words
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Anyone who paints elephant-nosed women and six-sided guitars, and calls them art, should obviously see an oculist �or a doctor.
From Time Magazine Archive
Died, Austin O'Malley, M. D., 73, scientist, oculist, author, brother of Writer Frank Ward O'Malley; of arteriosclerosis after a lingering illness; in Philadelphia.
From Time Magazine Archive
A mild-mannered oculist, Dr. Galeazzi-Lisi first met the Pope when he was still Eugenio Pacelli, the Vatican's 54-year-old Secretary of State, suffering from eye-strain headaches, which Galeazzi-Lisi relieved.
From Time Magazine Archive
There Princess Elena consulted her oculist; for, beautiful though she is, she is said to be losing her eyesight.
From Time Magazine Archive
He had the advice of an eminent oculist; and he eventually recovered the sight of that one eye.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
