long-sightedness
|long-sight-ed-ness|
🇺🇸
/lɔŋˈsaɪtɪdnəs/
🇬🇧
/lɒŋˈsaɪtɪdnəs/
seeing far / planning ahead
Etymology
'long-sightedness' originates from Old English elements 'long' and 'sight', specifically the words 'lang' and 'siht', where 'lang' meant 'long' and 'siht' meant 'a seeing or sight'.
'long-sightedness' changed from the Middle English compound 'long-sightednesse' (formed from 'long' + 'sight' + the nominalizing suffix '-ness') and eventually became the modern English word 'long-sightedness'.
Initially it referred primarily to the literal state of 'being able to see far' (the visual condition); over time it also gained a figurative meaning of 'ability to plan or see ahead' (foresight).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a medical condition (hyperopia) in which distant objects are seen more clearly than near ones; difficulty focusing on close objects.
His long-sightedness meant he needed reading glasses for close work.
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Noun 2
the quality of planning or thinking ahead; foresight and prudence in considering long-term consequences.
The committee's long-sightedness in funding education projects paid off years later.
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Last updated: 2026/01/13 21:25