anamorphic

adjective

ana·mor·phic ˌa-nə-ˈmȯr-fik

: producing, relating to, or marked by intentional distortion (as by unequal magnification along perpendicular axes) of an image

an anamorphic lens

Examples of anamorphic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Shallow focus and wide anamorphic lenses reinforce Mariko as the subject while sweeping overhead shots provide scope and scale. —

Daron James, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2024 Magnolia Pictures Sean Baker’s third feature, shot on an iPhone fitted with special anamorphic lenses, may be a relatively lo-fi affair technically. —

Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 30 July 2024 Drew Daniels shot it in 35mm with anamorphic lenses to achieve a ’70s vibe. —

Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 15 July 2024 The director recommended anamorphic lenses, which were a good fit for the American setting and introspective tone, with characters often isolated in empty rooms. —

Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 11 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for anamorphic

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anamorphic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from French anamorphique, derivative (by analogy with other derivatives with -morphique -morphic) of anamorphose "anamorphosis (image produced by a distorting optical system)," borrowed from New Latin anamorphosis, probably from Greek ana- ana- + -morphōsis (as in metamórphōsis "transformation, metamorphosis")

Note: The New Latin word anamorphosis in reference to optical distortion was apparently introduced by the German Jesuit scientific writer Gaspar Schott (1608-66) in his Magia universalis naturae et artis (Würzburg, 1657), p. 100 ff.

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of anamorphic was in 1875

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