oculus

From the Proto-Indo-European root *h₃ekʷ- (“eye; to see”) with the diminutive suffix -ulus. Compare Sanskrit अक्षि (ákṣi, “eye”), Ancient Greek ὄσσε (ósse, “eyes”), ὤψ (ṓps, “eye”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈo.ku.lus/, [ˈɔkʊɫ̪ʊs̠]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈo.ku.lus/, [ˈɔːkulus]

Noun

oculus m (genitive oculī); second declension

1. (literally, anatomy) eye [ synonym ▲][ quotations ▼]

   Synonym: (Ecclesiastical Latin) palpebra

2. (transferred sense):
   1. sight, vision
   2. (poetic, literary) luminary of the sun and stars
   3. spot resembling an eye, such as on a peacock feather
   4. (botany):
      1. eye, bud, bourgeon
      2. bud, bulb or knob on many roots, on the reed, etc.
      3. great houseleek [ synonym ▲]

         Synonym: aizōum majus

3. (figuratively):
   1. principal ornament
   2. eye of the soul, mind's eye [ quotations ▼]

Inflection

Second-declension noun.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	oculus	oculī
Genitive	oculī	oculōrum
Dative	oculō	oculīs
Accusative	oculum	oculōs
Ablative	oculō	oculīs
Vocative	ocule	oculī