An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

To increase the apparent size of, as a lens does.

From O.Fr. magnifier, from L. magnificare "esteem greatly, extol," from magnificus "splendid," from magnus "great" + root of facere "to make."

From bozorg "large, magnificent, great" + nemudan "to show." The first element from Mid.Pers. vazurg "great, big, high, lofty;" O.Pers. vazarka- "great;" Av. vazra- "club, mace" (Mod.Pers. gorz "mace"); cf. Skt. vájra- "(Indra's) thunderbolt," vaja- "strength, speed;" L. vigere "be lively, thrive," velox "fast, lively," vegere "to enliven," vigil "watchful, awake;" P.Gmc. *waken (Du. waken; O.H.G. wahhen; Ger. wachen "to be awake;" E. wake); PIE base *weg- "to be strong, be lively." The second element nemudan from Mid.Pers. nimūdan, nimây- "to show," from O.Pers./Av. ni- "down; into," → ni-, + māy- "to measure," → display.
Bozorgidan infinitive from bozorg + -idan.

A lens or lens system that produces an enlarged virtual image of an object placed near its front focal point. According to Enoch (1998, SPIE vol. 3299, p. 424), the earliest lenses identified are from the IV/V Dynasties of Egypt, dating back to about 4,500 years ago (e.g., the eyes of the Louvre statue Le scribe accroupi and other examples located in the Cairo Museum). For more information see → burning sphere.

Magnifying, verbal adj. of → magnify; → glass.

Zarrebin, from zarré "a minute thing," → particle, + bin "seer; to see" (present stem of didan; Mid.Pers. wyn-; O.Pers. vain- "to see;" Av. vaēn- "to see;" Skt. veda "I know;" Gk. oida "I know," idein "to see;" L. videre "to see;" PIE base *weid- "to know, to see").

The ratio between the focal lengths of the objective and ocular in a telescope.

Magnifying, verbal adj. of → magnify; → power.