See Also: eyeglasses(medicine)
eyeglasses(encyclopedia)

monarchy (iou) and eyeglasses (sh)


monarchy (iou)



monarchy noun. ME.
[Old & mod. French monarchie from late Latin monarchia from Greek monarkhia from monarkhos MONARCH noun: see -Y3.]
A State ruled by a monarch. ME.
A. Bullock He was not concerned whether Greece became a monarchy or a republic.
b. The territory of a monarch. rare. M16-L17.
Undivided rule by a single person; absolute power; fig. pre-eminence, predominance. LME.
W. Congreve Nobody can dispute Your Lordship's Monarchy in Poetry. J. B. Mozley Gregory VII..claimed the monarchy of the world.
Rule by a monarch; a form of government with a monarch at the head. E17.
C. V. Wedgwood The conception of monarchy for which King Charles both lived and died.
Phrases: constitutional monarchy: see CONSTITUTIONAL adjective 4. Fifth Monarchy: see FIFTH adjective.

eyeglasses (sh)




Lenses set in frames to wear in front of the eyes to aid vision or correct vision defects (see ophthalmology, optometry).

Their use for farsightedness and nearsightedness has been known since the late Middle Ages. In 1784 Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals, with divided lenses for distant and near vision. Eyeglasses can also correct astigmatism. Most lenses are made of glass or plastic (lighter and more shatterproof than glass but easily scratched). Sunglass lenses are tinted to reduce glare and often treated to reduce ultraviolet light exposure. See also contact lens.