a. [ad. L. speculāris, f. speculum SPECULUM; or, in senses 6 and 7, f. L. speculārī to spy, observe, specula watch-tower. Cf. F. spéculaire (16th c. in Godef., Compl.), Prov. specular, It. speculare, specolare, Sp. and Pg. especulario.]
I. 1. Specular stone (after L. specularis lapis), a transparent or semi-transparent substance formerly used as glass or for ornamental purposes; a species of mica, selenite or tale; a piece or flake of this. (Cf. PHENGITE.) Obs. exc. arch.
1577. Harrison, England, II. xii. (1877), I. 236. I find obscure mention of the specular stone to haue beene found and applied to this use [sc. window-making] in England.
1627. Donne, Serm., Wks. 1839, IV. 472. In Temples made of Specular Stone that was transparent as glass or crystal.
1677. Plot, Oxfordsh., 68. Unless they are particles of the specular stone, or English Talc.
1725. trans. Pancirollus’ Rerum Mem., I. I. vi. 15. Specular Stones were a shining kind of Substance, and … transparent like the Air.
1889. trans. Rénan’s Apostles, xi. 168. The decoration of a hall which he wanted to have adorned with specular stones.
† b. A piece of this used as a mirror. Obs.–1
1640. Carew, Poems, Wks. (1824), 104. Give then no faith to the false specular stone, But let thy beauties by th’ effects be knowne.
† 2. Of vision: Obtained by reflection only; not direct or immediate. Obs.
Based upon 1 Cor. xiii. 12, where the Vulgate has per speculum in ænigmate and the Greek δι᾽ ἐσόπτρου ἐν αἰνίγματι.
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., II. viii. § 5 (1622), 293. Not in a specular, and ænigmaticall vision; but in a cleere, and immediate one.
a. 1677. Manton, Transfig. Christ, ii. Wks. 1870, I. 349. Not only doth vision or immediate intuition produce this effect, but also spiritual specular vision, or a sight of God in the ordinances.
1704. Norris, Ideal World, II. v. 287. St. Paul says … we see through a glass darkly…. This has given occasion to the schools to distinguish of a certain ænigmatical or specular vision, in opposition to that vision of God which is by his essence.
3. Having the reflecting property of a mirror; presenting a smooth, polished and reflecting surface; of a brilliant metallic luster. Now Min.
1661. Boyle, Scept. Chem., V. 333. From this red Body … may be obtain’d a Mercury bright and Specular as it was before. Ibid. (1666), Orig. Forms & Qual., 235. Divers of these Christals have … Triangles … and other Figures exquisitely Cut on their smooth & specular surfaces; and others, Bodies of Prismatical shapes.
1796. Phil. Trans., LXXXVI. 273. It is evident that the particles of bodies are specular.
1796. Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), I. 36. The laminæ … have not a polished, or at least, not a specular surface.
1816. P. Cleaveland, Min., 552. Specular native arsenic. This very remarkable variety of Arsenic possesses a metallic brilliancy.
1829. Chapters Phys. Sci., 281. Specular bodies are those the surfaces of which, being polished, reflect the rays in the same order as they come from other bodies.
1851. Mantell, Petrifactions, iii. § 1. 144. Iron-glance, or specular oxide, from Elba, Stromboli, Vesuvius.
fig. 1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., III. vi. (1848), 156. The fine Expressions you applaud, are commonly parts of a Sermon that have no specular Virtue in them.
b. Specular iron or iron ore, hæmatite, esp. the brilliant crystalline form of this.
(a) 1796. Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), II. 162. Specular Iron ore.
1803. Phil. Trans., XCIII. 336. The primitive form of the slightly attractable oxide of iron, formerly known by the name of specular iron ore.
1859. R. Hunt, Guide Mus. Pract. Geol. (ed. 2), 153. Specular iron ore is found throughout Asia, Corsica, Germany [etc.].
1882. Floyer, Unexpl. Balūchistan, 125. The blocks of specular iron ore are very heavy.
(b) 1804. Phil. Trans. XCIV. 332. The fine gray specular iron from Sweden.
1854. F. C. Bakewell, Geol., 87. It [iron] presents itself separately as a volcanic product in the peculiar form of brilliant laminæ, called specular iron, which bears a high polish.
1879. Rutley, Study Rocks, x. 155. The crystallised variety, specular iron or ironglance, belongs to the rhombohedral system.
c. (See quot.)
1863. Atkinson, trans. Ganot’s Physics, 363. The reflection from the surfaces of polished bodies, the laws of which have just been stated, is called the regular or specular reflection.
4. Of a telescope: Fitted with a speculum; reflecting.
1676. Life Father Sarpi, in Brent’s Counc. Trent, 21. Gio. Battista Porta … makes honourable mention of Padre Paolo as of no ordinary personage, and particularly of his specular perspective.
5. Performed by means of a surgical speculum.
1898. P. Manson, Trop. Diseases, xviii. 307. In every case in which there is probability of rectal disease digital or specular examination must be made.
II. 6. Of or pertaining to sight or vision; esp. specular orb (poet.), the eye.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Specular,… belonging to seeing or spying, to Spectacles or glass windows.
1708. J. Philips, Cider, i. 22. Thy Specular Orb Apply to well-dissected Kernels.
1721. D’Urfey, Two Queens Brentford, V. i. in New Opera’s, 83. Always considering the Design is for specular Instruction.
1810. Southey, Kehama, XIV. x. In the fiendish joy within his eyes, She knew the hateful Spirit who look’d through Their specular orbs.
7. poet. Or heights, etc.: Affording or giving a wide or extensive view. (Cf. SPECULATION 2 c.)
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 236. Look once more e’re we leave this specular Mount Westward.
1833. Wordsw., ‘Hope smiled when your nativity was cast.’ Calm as the Universe, from specular towers Of heaven contemplated by Spirits pure.
1842. I. Williams, Baptistery, I. x. (1874), 115. This is Wisdom’s specular height, from whence To view as from a watch-tower things of sense.
1890. J. H. Stirling, Philos. & Theol., viii. 144. The specular heights of the universal.
