Word Confusion: Perspective versus Prospective

Plural for the noun: perspectives

[Obsolete] Aiding the vision his eyes should be like unto the wrong end of a perspective glass

Noun:
A technique of depicting volumes and spatial relationships on a flat surface ²

• A picture drawn in perspective, especially one appearing to enlarge or extend the actual space, or to give the effect of distance
• A view or prospect
• [Geometry] The relation of two figures in the same plane, such that pairs of corresponding points lie on concurrent lines, and corresponding lines meet in collinear points

A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something

• [Writing] A point of view
• True understanding of the relative importance of things
• A sense of proportion

An apparent spatial distribution in perceived sound

[Archaic] An optical glass (such as a telescope) ³

• Likely to happen at a future date
• Concerned with or applying to the future

Potential, likely

“When we talk about perspective drawing, we usually mean linear perspective” (South).

“It was as if I was going to show it to a prospective buyer any moment” (Harris).

Noun:
Today’s assignment is to create a perspective drawing.

Picasso developed Cubism as a response to linear perspective and shading.

Color is also used as a form of aerial perspective to lead the eye further back into the painting, while still retaining its decorative functions.

It’s a trick of perspective to create a sense of depth.

He had created a perspective on the main axis of an estate.

He then goes on to give theorems which relate to the perspective of plane figures.

Most guidebook history is written from the editor’s perspective.

We must keep a sense of perspective about what he’s done.

There is now a clearer definition and a back-to-front perspective to the sound.

“An example of forced perspective is a scene in an action movie in which dinosaurs are threatening the heroes. By placing a miniature model of a dinosaur close to the camera, the director may make the dinosaur look monstrously tall to the viewer, even though it is just closer to the camera” (Forced).

There was a meeting to discuss prospective changes in government legislation.

The prospective earnings are substantial.

Our study was designed as a prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial.

1. Middle English perspectyf, from the medieval Latin perspectivum, from the neuter of perspectivus of sight, optical, from the Latin perspectus, past participle of perspicere meaning to look through, see clearly, from per- (through) + specere (to look).
2. The Middle French, probably a modification of the Old Italian prospettiva, from prospetto meaning view, prospect, from the Latin prospectus.
3. Late Middle English, in the sense optics, from the medieval Latin perspectiva (ars) meaning (science of) optics, from perspect- meaning looked at closely, from the verb perspicere, from per- (through) + specere (to look).