[Ads-l] antedating of optics, n., OED sense 2

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Here is “Political Opticks” in 1656, but it seems to mean political
perception or political perspicacity.

Date: 1656
Title: The Unparalleld Monarch: Or, The Portraiture of a Matchless Prince
Author: Oliver Cromwell (according to GB)
Publication: Printed for Humphrey Robinson at the three Pigeons in
Pauls Church-yard, London
Database: Google Books Full View

https://books.google.com/books?id=fgQ-AQAAMAAJ&q=Opticks#v=snippet&q=Opticks&f=false

[Begin excerpt]
He is the Master of Political Opticks, and hath no other
superintendent Councel then the wisedom of his own Genius; His designs
are elevated above an ordinary Courage, and too intricate for more
then common capacities;
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Sat, Oct 29, 2022 at 3:45 PM James Eric Lawson <jel at nventure.com> wrote:
>
> Antedating of 'optics', noun sense 2; 1973 in OEDO (updated June 2004,
> modified March, 2022): "Originally North American. The way in which a
> situation, event, or course of action is perceived by the public.
> Frequently in political contexts."
>
> Excerpt: The author of this pamphlet appears to be one of those writers
> who pretend to great penetration into futurity, in which they affect to
> discover dreadful misfortunes that must inevitably befall the British
> arms, in the present contest with the colonies. It is time only that can
> confirm or fully refute such predictions; and we shall therefore make no
> other remark, but that they seem not to be very consistent with the laws
> of political optics.
>
> Source: A review of a pamphlet titled "A Prospect of the Consequences of
> the present Conduct of Great Britain towards America" in the May 1776
> issue of _The Critical review: or, Annals of literature_, p 399.
>
> https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433066596663&view=1up&seq=417&skin=2021&q1=political%20optics
>
> Note: Occasional instances of the "political optics" metaphor continue
> to appear in the literature of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Sense
> development does not entirely comport with the OEDO definition, which
> perhaps should be supplemented or revised in light of the historical
> record.
>
> --
> James Eric Lawson
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org