Hydroscope

Hydroscope

The word hydroscope is used to mean any of several instruments related to water.

One kind is an instrument for seeing below the surface of water, such as a long tube fitted with various lenses so arranged that objects lying at the bottom can be reflected upon a screen on the deck of the ship that carries it. Despite common belief Hypatia did not invent the hydroscope


Sources and notes


1 'For the sake of completeness we must mention that fact that SYNESIOS in his letter to HYPATIA mentions a hydrometer, which according to some was already known in the fourth century AD to PRISCIANUS, that is a century before SYNESIOS and HYPATIA.', Forbes, 'A Short History of the Art of Distillation: from the beginnings up to the death of Cellier Blumenthal', p. 25 (1970).

4 'In 402, Hypatia receives a letter from the ailing Synesius giving a brief description of what he calls a hydroscope. This is a scientific instrument which was then in common use, although Hypatian is often credited with its invention.', Waithe, 'Ancient women philosophers, 600 B.C.-500 A.D.', p. 192 (1987).



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  • hydroscope — ⇒HYDROSCOPE, subst. masc. Personne qui pratique l hydroscopie. Guidé par un instinct particulier aux montagnards, aux hydroscopes, il « sentit » ce torrent à travers le roc, mais certainement il n avait point vu le précieux liquide (VERNE, Voy.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Hydroscope — Hy dro*scope, n. [Hydro , 1 + scope.] 1. An instrument designed to mark the presence of water, especially in air. Weale. [1913 Webster] 2. A kind of water clock, used anciently for measuring time, the water tricking from an orifice at the end of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hydroscope — [hī′drə skōp΄] n. [ HYDRO + SCOPE] a device like a periscope, for viewing things at some distance below the surface of water …   English World dictionary

  • HYDROSCOPE — s. m. Celui que l on suppose avoir la faculté de sentir les émanations des eaux souterraines …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 7eme edition (1835)

  • HYDROSCOPE — n. m. T. didactique Celui qui pratique l’hydroscopie …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 8eme edition (1935)

  • hydroscope — hydroscopic /huy dreuh skop ik/, hydroscopical, adj. hydroscopicity /huy dreuh skoh pis i tee/, n. /huy dreuh skohp /, n. an optical device for viewing objects below the surface of water. [1670 80; HYDRO 1 + SCOPE] * * * …   Universalium

  • hydroscope — noun A device for viewing objects below the surface of the water …   Wiktionary

  • hydroscope — (i dro sko p ) s. m. 1°   Celui qui pratique l art de rechercher les sources, les eaux souterraines. 2°   Particulièrement. Celui que l on suppose avoir la faculté de sentir les émanations des eaux souterraines. ÉTYMOLOGIE    Terme dérivé de deux …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • hydroscope — instrument for viewing under water Scientific Instruments …   Phrontistery dictionary

  • hydroscope — hy·dro·scope …   English syllables

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