Back to all words

Kaleidoscope

2 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a tube of mirrors showing changing patterns of colored glass, or a constantly shifting pattern
1
Stage 1 of 2
kalos
Greek · ancient
"beautiful"
beautiful, combined with eidos (form) and skopein (to view)
2
Stage 2 of 2
kaleidoscope
English · 1810s
"an optical toy showing changing colored patterns"
coined by Scottish scientist David Brewster for his new optical toy
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom