looking-glass
UK[ˈlʊkɪŋ ɡlɑːs]US[ˈlʊkɪŋ ɡlæs]
n
A mirror, especially one made of glass with a reflective backing.
n
(By extension) A model or standard that reflects or reveals the true nature of something.
Morpheme Breakdown
looking
glass
looking
to see, gaze
glass
a hard, brittle substance, often transparent
Etymology
The compound "looking-glass" is a straightforward and descriptive formation from Middle English, directly combining the verb 'looken' (to see) with the noun 'glas' (glass). It literally means "a glass for looking," specifically for looking at oneself. This transparent term replaced the earlier, more Latinate "mirror" in common English usage for several centuries, perfectly capturing the object's function. The term gained enduring cultural significance beyond its literal meaning through Lewis Carroll's 1871 novel "Through the Looking-Glass," where it metaphorically represents a portal to a strange, reflective world, cementing its use as a symbol for anything that reveals or inverts reality.
Analysis
Structure: looking + glass
- looking: From the present participle of the verb 'look' (Old English 'lōcian', meaning "to see, gaze"). In this compound, it functions as a modifier meaning "for seeing".
- glass: From Old English 'glæs', meaning "a hard, brittle substance, often transparent". In this compound, it refers to the material from which the object is made.
Examples
She admired her reflection in the ornate looking-glass.
The report serves as a looking-glass into the company's financial health.
In the story, Alice steps through the looking-glass into a world where everything is reversed.