Word of the Day

: July 22, 2007

panoptic

adjective pan-OP-tik

What It Means

: being or presenting a comprehensive or panoramic view

panoptic in Context

At the top of the mountain is a sightseeing point that provides climbers with a panoptic view of the surrounding valleys.

Did You Know?

The establishment of "panoptic" in the English language can be attributed to two inventions known as panopticons. The more well-known panopticon was conceived by the English philosopher Jeremy Bentham in 1787. Bentham's panopticon was a circular prison with cells arranged around a central tower from which guards could see the inmates at all times. The other panopticon, also created in the 18th century, was a device containing pictures of attractions, such as European capitals, that people viewed through an opening. Considering the views that both inventions gave, it is not hard to see why "panoptic" (a word derived from Greek "panoptēs," meaning "all-seeing") was being used by the early 19th century.