Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Image?

\Im"age\, n. [F., fr. L. imago, imaginis, from the root of imitari to imitate. See {Imitate}, and cf. {Imagine}.] 1. An imitation, representation, or similitude of any person, thing, or act, sculptured, drawn, painted, or otherwise made perceptible to the sight; a visible presentation; a copy; a likeness; an effigy; a picture; a semblance. Even like a stony image, cold and numb. --Shak. Whose is this image and superscription? --Matt. xxii. 20. This play is the image of a murder done in Vienna. --Shak. And God created man in his own image. --Gen. i. 27. 2. Hence: The likeness of anything to which worship is paid; an idol. --Chaucer. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, . . . thou shalt not bow down thyself to them. --Ex. xx. 4, 5. 3. Show; appearance; cast. The face of things a frightful image bears. --Dryden. 4. A representation of anything to the mind; a picture drawn by the fancy; a conception; an idea. Can we conceive Image of aught delightful, soft, or great? --Prior. 5. (Rhet.) A picture, example, or illustration, often taken from sensible objects, and used to illustrate a subject; usually, an extended metaphor. --Brande & C. 6. (Opt.) The figure or picture of any object formed at the focus of a lens or mirror, by rays of light from the several points of the object symmetrically refracted or reflected to corresponding points in such focus; this may be received on a screen, a photographic plate, or the retina of the eye, and viewed directly by the eye, or with an eyeglass, as in the telescope and microscope; the likeness of an object formed by reflection; as, to see one's image in a mirror. {Electrical image}. See under {Electrical}. {Image breaker}, one who destroys images; an iconoclast. {Image graver}, {Image maker}, a sculptor. {Image worship}, the worship of images as symbols; iconolatry distinguished from idolatry; the worship of images themselves. {Image Purkinje} (Physics), the image of the retinal blood vessels projected in, not merely on, that membrane. {Virtual image} (Optics), a point or system of points, on one side of a mirror or lens, which, if it existed, would emit the system of rays which actually exists on the other side of the mirror or lens. --Clerk Maxwell.
\Im"age\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Imaged}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Imaging}.] 1. To represent or form an image of; as, the still lake imaged the shore; the mirror imaged her figure. ``Shrines of imaged saints.'' --J. Warton. 2. To represent to the mental vision; to form a likeness of by the fancy or recollection; to imagine. Condemn'd whole years in absence to deplore, And image charms he must behold no more. --Pope.