scope
UK[skəʊp]US[skoʊp]
n
the range of things that a subject, activity, book etc deals with
n
the opportunity or ability to do or develop something
Etymology
The word 'scope' entered English in the 16th century from Italian 'scopo', meaning 'aim, purpose', which itself was borrowed from Greek 'skopos' ('target, watcher'). This Greek term is rooted in the verb 'skeptesthai' ('to look, examine'), a common Indo-European verb of vision. The modern abstract meanings of 'range' or 'extent of activity' evolved from the original sense of 'aim' or 'target', metaphorically shifting from the literal object one looks at to the figurative breadth or area one's attention or actions can cover. This semantic journey from a visual target to a conceptual range illustrates a classic path of meaning extension.
Analysis
The word 'scope' is a simplex loanword from Italian, entering English as a whole unit. Its ultimate origin is the Greek word 'skopos' meaning 'target, aim, watcher', derived from the verb 'skeptesthai' ('to look, examine').
Examples
The full scope of the problem only became clear after further investigation.
This new role will give you more scope for creativity.
The report is excellent, but its scope is limited to European markets.