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Excerpt from The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section D and E, by Project Gutenberg

Boyle.

By the eye, in abundance. [Obs.] Marlowe. -- Elliott eye (Naut.), a loop in a hemp cable made around a thimble and served. -- Eye agate, a kind of circle agate, the central parts of which are of deeper tints than the rest of the mass. Brande & C. -- Eye animalcule (Zoöl), a flagellate infusorian belonging to Euglena and related genera; -- so called because it has a colored spot like an eye at one end. -- Eye doctor, an oculist. -- Eye of a volute (Arch.), the circle in the center of volute. -- Eye of day, Eye of the morning, Eye of heaven, the sun. "So gently shuts the eye of day." Mrs. Barbauld. -- Eye of a ship, the foremost part in the bows of a ship, where, formerly, eyes were painted; also, the hawser holes. Ham. Nav. Encyc. -- Half an eye, very imperfect sight; a careless glance; as, to see a thing with half an eye; often figuratively. "Those who have but half an eye." B. Jonson. -- To catch one's eye, to attract one's notice. -- To find favor in the eyes (of), to be graciously received and treated. -- To have an eye to, to pay particular attention to; to watch. "Have an eye to Cinna." Shak. -- To keep an eye on, to watch. -- To set the eyes on, to see; to have a sight of. -- In the eye of the wind (Naut.), in a direction opposed to the wind; as, a ship sails in the eye of the wind.

Eye (&?😉, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eyed (&?😉; p. pr. & vb. n. Eying or Eyeing.] To fix the eye on; to look on; to view; to observe; particularly, to observe or watch narrowly, or with fixed attention; to hold in view.

Explanation ​

This excerpt from The Gutenberg Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary (a digitized version of the 1913 Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary) is a lexicographical entry for the word "eye"—both as a noun and a verb. While it may seem like a dry, technical listing, the passage is rich in historical, linguistic, and cultural significance. Below is a detailed breakdown of the text, focusing on its content, themes, literary devices, and broader implications.

1. Context and Source ​

  • Project Gutenberg is a digital library of free eBooks, including public-domain works like dictionaries, classic literature, and reference texts. This excerpt comes from a 1913 edition of Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, which was one of the most comprehensive American dictionaries of its time.
  • The dictionary was compiled during a period when English was rapidly expanding due to scientific, nautical, and industrial advancements. Thus, many definitions reflect specialized jargon (e.g., nautical, zoological, architectural terms).
  • The Victorian/Edwardian era (late 19th–early 20th century) valued precision in language, which is evident in the meticulous categorization of "eye" into literal, figurative, technical, and idiomatic uses.

2. Structure and Content Breakdown ​

The entry is divided into two main parts:

  1. "Eye" as a noun (with sub-definitions, idioms, and technical usages).
  2. "Eye" as a verb (with conjugations and examples).

A. "Eye" as a Noun ​

The noun section is a catalog of meanings, ranging from literal anatomical references to metaphorical, technical, and idiomatic expressions. The structure follows a hierarchical, encyclopedic format, common in dictionaries of the time.

  1. Literal/Anatomical Meaning (Implied)

    • The primary definition (not explicitly stated here but implied) is the organ of sight. However, the excerpt jumps into extended usages, assuming the reader already knows the basic meaning.

  2. Obsolete and Poetic Usages

    • "By the eye, in abundance" [Obs.] (Marlowe)
      • An archaic phrase from Christopher Marlowe (Elizabethan playwright, contemporary of Shakespeare).
      • Likely means "judging by appearance" or "visibly abundant."
      • The "[Obs.]" tag indicates it was already obsolete by 1913, showing how dictionaries track linguistic evolution.

  3. Technical and Specialized Terms The dictionary includes domain-specific definitions, reflecting the era’s scientific and industrial focus:

    • Nautical: "Elliott eye" (a loop in a hemp cable), "Eye of a ship" (hawser holes in the bow).
    • Geological: "Eye agate" (a type of banded agate with a darker center).
    • Zoological: "Eye animalcule" (a microscopic organism, Euglena, with a light-sensitive spot).
    • Architectural: "Eye of a volute" (the center of a spiral ornament).
    • Astronomical/Poetic: "Eye of day" (the sun, a metaphor common in literature, e.g., Mrs. Barbauld’s poetry).

  4. Idiomatic and Figurative Expressions Many phrases reveal cultural attitudes toward vision, attention, and perception:

    • "Half an eye" – Suggests carelessness or minimal attention ("to see with half an eye" = to glance superficially).
      • Example from Ben Jonson (17th-century playwright) shows how idioms persist in literature.
    • "To catch one’s eye" – Implies attraction or notice, a phrase still in use today.
    • "To find favor in the eyes (of)" – A biblical/archaic phrasing (e.g., Genesis 6:8: "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord").
    • "To keep an eye on" – Denotes vigilance or surveillance.
    • "In the eye of the wind" – A nautical metaphor for sailing directly against the wind, showing how specialized language enters general usage.

  5. Historical and Cultural References

    • Shakespearean influence: "Have an eye to Cinna" (from Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 3) is cited, showing how dictionaries preserve literary allusions.
    • Religious/poetic imagery: The sun as the "Eye of heaven" (a personification common in Romantic and Renaissance literature) links vision to divine observation.

B. "Eye" as a Verb ​

The verbal form is concise but reveals active engagement with vision:

  • "To fix the eye on; to look on; to observe narrowly"
    • The definitions emphasize intentionality—vision as an act of focus or scrutiny.
    • The past participle "eyed" (e.g., "a suspiciously eyed stranger") is still used today.

3. Themes ​

  1. Vision as Power and Perception

    • The word "eye" is not just about physical sight but also judgment, surveillance, and attention.
    • Phrases like "to keep an eye on" suggest control, while "to find favor in the eyes" implies social approval.

  2. Language as a Living Entity

    • The mix of obsolete, technical, and colloquial usages shows how words evolve over time.
    • The dictionary acts as a time capsule, preserving phrases from Marlowe, Shakespeare, and 19th-century nautical slang.

  3. Interdisciplinary Knowledge

    • The entry bridges science (zoology, geology), art (architecture), and literature, reflecting the encyclopedic ambitions of Victorian-era reference works.

  4. Metaphor and Symbolism

    • The "eye" is a recurring symbol in literature (e.g., the all-seeing eye in The Great Gatsby, Big Brother’s gaze in 1984).
    • The dictionary’s definitions codify these metaphors, showing how literal meanings extend into abstract ideas.

4. Literary Devices ​

While a dictionary entry is not a literary work, it employs:

  1. Cataloging/Listing – The accumulation of definitions creates a collage of meanings, similar to modernist techniques (e.g., Joyce’s Ulysses).
  2. Allusion – References to Shakespeare, Marlowe, and Barbauld embed the entry in literary history.
  3. Metaphor & Personification – "Eye of heaven" (sun), "eye of the wind" (direction) turn abstract concepts into tangible images.
  4. Idiomatic Language – Phrases like "half an eye" use synecdoche (a part representing the whole—here, "eye" for "attention").

5. Significance ​

  1. Linguistic History

    • The excerpt shows how English absorbs technical jargon (nautical, scientific) into everyday speech.
    • It documents obsolescence (e.g., Marlowe’s phrase) and persistence (e.g., "catch one’s eye").

  2. Cultural Attitudes Toward Vision

    • The eye as a symbol of authority (divine, social, or personal) reflects Western philosophies of observation (e.g., Panopticon, the gaze in psychoanalysis).
    • The nautical and scientific terms highlight the industrial age’s reliance on precision and measurement.

  3. Dictionary as a Literary Artifact

    • Unlike modern digital dictionaries, 1913 Webster’s was descriptive and prescriptive, shaping standard English.
    • The physicality of the book (heavy, comprehensive) mirrored Victorian values of knowledge as power.

  4. Digital Preservation (Project Gutenberg)

    • The excerpt’s availability online democratizes access to historical language, allowing readers to trace word origins.

6. Close Reading of Key Phrases ​

  • "So gently shuts the eye of day." (Mrs. Barbauld)

    • A poetic personification of sunset (the sun as a closing eye).
    • Reflects Romantic-era nature imagery, where celestial bodies are alive.

  • "Those who have but half an eye." (Ben Jonson)

    • Implies that even minimal attention should suffice to notice something obvious.
    • Shows how idioms rely on shared cultural understanding.

  • "In the eye of the wind"

    • A nautical metaphor for defiance or difficulty (sailing against the wind).
    • Later used figuratively for opposition (e.g., "in the eye of the storm").

7. Conclusion: Why This Matters ​

This dictionary entry is more than a definition—it is a microcosm of language, history, and culture. It reveals:

  • How words carry multiple layers (literal, technical, metaphorical).
  • How literature and science intersect in everyday speech.
  • How dictionaries are not neutral but reflect the biases and knowledge of their time.

For a modern reader, this excerpt is a window into the past, showing how meanings shift and how language connects us to history. It also invites reflection on how we "eye" the world today—through surveillance, social media, and digital observation.

Would you like a deeper dive into any specific aspect (e.g., the nautical terms, Shakespearean references, or the evolution of idioms)?