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Origin and history of view

view(n.)

mid-14c., veue "a visual perception;" early 15c., "formal inspection or survey" (of land); from Anglo-French vewe, Old French veue "light, brightness; look, appearance; eyesight, vision," noun use of fem. past participle of veoir "to see," from Latin videre "to see" (from PIE root *weid- "to see").

In general use, "examination by the eye," from 1560s; by c. 1600 as "that which is seen or beheld," hence "sight or prospect of a landscape, etc." The camera view-finder is attested by 1889.

The meaning "act of perceiving by the mind" is attested from early 15c.; the sense of "manner of regarding something" is by 1570s. Hence views in reference to one's opinions, theories, ideas, etc.

view(v.)

1520s, "inspect, examine;" 1540s, "see, look, behold;" from view (n.). By 1590s as "survey intellectually." From 1765 as "to regard in a certain way;" from 1935 as "to watch television." Related: Viewed; viewer; viewing.

also from 1520s

Entries linking to view

viewer(n.)

early 15c., veuer, "inspector, overseer, civic official responsible for surveying property," agent noun from view (v.). The meaning "watcher of television" is attested by 1930, in place of earlier looker-in (1927), watcher-in (1928).

Heretofore the radiocasting of television pictures of persons has been confined largely to head and shoulders. At the [Chicago] "Daily News" station viewers are able to see full length pictures of several artists at once. ["Television in America," Brisbane Telegraph, Nov, 19, 1930]
viewing(n.)

1540s, "inspection," verbal noun from view (v.). From 1944 as "last presentation of a dead body before the funeral" (earlier viewing (of) the remains, 1920); from 1959 as "the watching of television."

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purview
mid-15c., purveu, in law, "the body of a statute, the substance of an act," from Anglo-French purveu est "it is provided," or purveu que "provided that" (late 13c.), clauses that introduced statutes in old legal documents, from Anglo-French purveu, Old French porveu (Modern Frenc
review
mid-15c., review, revewe, reveue, "a formal inspection of military forces" by a higher official or superior in rank, to judge the effectiveness of their training, from Old French reveue "a reviewing, review" (Modern French revue), noun use of fem. past participle of reveeir "to s
consider
late 14c., consideren, "to fix the mind upon for careful examination, meditate upon," also "view attentively, scrutinize; not to be negligent of," from Old French considerer (13c.) "reflect on, consider, study," from Latin considerare "to look at closely, observe," probably liter
contemplate
1590s, "reflect upon, ponder, study, view mentally, meditate," from Latin contemplatus, past participle of contemplari "to...From c. 1600 as "to view or observe with continued attention." From 1816 as "to intend, have in view as a future act."...
prospect
of looking into the distance, condition of facing something else or a certain direction," from Latin prospectus "distant view...The meaning "extensive view of the landscape, view of things within the reach of the eye" is from 1530s; transferred sense...of "mental view or survey" is from 1620s....
panorama
scenes too extended to be beheld all at once, coined c. 1789 by inventor, Irish artist Robert Barker, literally "a complete view...Meaning "comprehensive survey, complete or entire view" is by 1801....
advise
late 13c., avisen "to view, consider" (a sense now obsolete); late 14c., "to give counsel to," from Old French aviser "deliberate...consider" (13c.), from avis "opinion," from phrase ço m'est à vis "it seems to me," or from Vulgar Latin *mi est visum "in my view...
include
early 15c., "to shut (someone or something) in materially, enclose, imprison, confine," also "to have (something) as a constituent part," from Latin includere "to shut in, enclose, imprison, insert," from in- "in" (from PIE root *en "in") + claudere "to shut" (see close (v.)). Th
prize
"that which is obtained or offered as the reward of exertion or contest; reward or symbol of victory," spelling alteration of Middle English prise (c. 1300 in this sense), from Old French pris "price, value, worth; reward" (see price (n.)). Figuratively, "anything worth striving
opinion
early 14c., opinioun, "a judgment formed or a conclusion reached, especially one based on evidence that does not produce knowledge or certainty," from Old French opinion "opinion, view, judgements founded upon probabilities" (12c.), from Latin opinionem (nominative opinio) "opini

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