astigmatism
|a-stig-ma-tism|
🇺🇸
/əˈstɪɡmətɪzəm/
🇬🇧
/əˈstɪɡmətɪz(ə)m/
no single focal point
Etymology
'astigmatism' originates from Greek via New Latin, specifically from the elements 'a-' meaning 'not' and 'stigma' meaning 'point' or 'mark'.
'astigmatism' changed from New Latin 'astigmatismus' and French 'astigmatisme', and eventually became the modern English word 'astigmatism'.
Initially, it meant 'absence of a point' (i.e., not forming a single point image), but over time it evolved into its current medical meaning as 'a refractive defect causing blurred or distorted vision.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an optical refractive defect of the eye or lens in which light rays fail to converge to a single focal point, causing blurred or distorted vision.
After an eye exam, she learned she had astigmatism and needed corrective lenses.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/24 13:17