defocus
UK[diːˈfəʊkəs]US[diːˈfoʊkəs]
v
To cause (a lens, beam, or optical system) to lose sharp focus.
v
To make or become less clearly defined or directed; to shift attention away from a central point.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
focus
de
remove
focus
central point
Etymology
The word 'defocus' is a modern scientific formation, constructed in English by applying the Latin-derived reversative prefix 'de-' to the existing noun 'focus'. The noun 'focus' entered English from Latin, where it literally meant 'fireplace' or 'hearth'—the central, vital point of a home. This concrete meaning was famously extended by the astronomer Johannes Kepler in 1604 to denote the central point where light rays converge. The verb 'defocus' logically inverts this concept, describing the action of moving away from or removing that precise point of convergence, whether in optics or metaphorically in thought or attention.
Analysis
Structure: de (remove) + focus (central point)
- de: A prefix of Latin origin meaning "off, away, down, completely," or indicating reversal or removal.
- focus: A noun of Latin origin meaning "hearth, fireplace," later extended to mean "central point."
Examples
The photographer chose to defocus the background to make the subject stand out.
During the meeting, the discussion began to defocus and stray from the main agenda.
To create a softer image, slightly defocus the lens.