Revised 2004
Factsheet
What does the word ophthalmic mean?
There are six meanings listed in OED's entry for the word ophthalmic, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
ophthalmic has developed meanings and uses in subjects including
ophthalmology (Middle English) pathology (early 1600s) pharmacology (mid 1600s) anatomy (mid 1700s) neurology (mid 1700s)
How common is the word ophthalmic?
About 0.9occurrences per million words in modern written English
See frequency
How is the word ophthalmic pronounced?
British English
/ɒfˈθalmɪk/
off-THAL-mick
/ɒpˈθalmɪk/
op-THAL-mick
U.S. English
/ɑpˈθælmɪk/
ahp-THAL-mick
/ɑfˈθælmɪk/
ahff-THAL-mick
See pronunciation
Where does the word ophthalmic come from?
Earliest known use
Middle English
The earliest known use of the word ophthalmic is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).
OED's earliest evidence for ophthalmic is from before 1425, in Guy de Chauliac's Grande Chirurgie.
ophthalmic is a borrowing from Latin.
Etymons: Latin ophthalmicus.
See etymology
Nearby entries
- ophryon, n.1878–
- Ophrys, n.1754–
- ophthalmalgia, n.1811–
- ophthalmalgic, adj.1857
- ophthalmatrophy, n.1857
- ophthalmia, n.a1398–
- ophthalmiac, n.1884
- ophthalmia neonatorum, n.1835–
- ophthalmiater, n.1761–1852
- ophthalmiatric, adj.1857
- ophthalmic, adj. & n.?a1425–
- ophthalmic acid, n.1956–
- ophthalmic optician, n.1884–
- ophthalmious, adj.1859–
- ophthalmist, n.1629–
- ophthalmite, n.1811–
- ophthalmitic, adj.¹1857–
- ophthalmitic, adj.²1890
- ophthalmitis, n.1822–
- ophthalmo-, comb. form
- ophthalmoblennorrhoea, n.1819–46
Browse more nearby entries
Etymology
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Meaning & use
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Pronunciation
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