looking-glass

plural looking-glasses · alternative looking glass

1. datedSynonym of mirror (“smooth surface that reflects light so as to give an image of what is in front of it”).First known use 1520s

   A Divine Looking-Glaſs: Or, The third and laſt Teſtament of our Lord, JESUS CHRIST, […] [title]

   1661, John Reeve; Lodowick Muggleton [i.e., Lodowicke Muggleton], A Divine Looking-glass: Or, The Third and Last Testament of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, […], [London]: Printed […] and reprinted for Lodowick Muggleton, […], →OCLC, title page

   5 more examples

   Even ſo the account of your Looking-glaſs puts us in hopes of ſome mighty Diſcoveries to be made by the Help of it, and at the ſame time, ſeems to carry its own Contradiction along with it; for a Pocket Looking-glaſs, is, doubtleſs, a moſt prepoſterous Help for taking a Clear View of a Great Coloſſus, unleſs it be one of thoſe, that contract the largeſt Bodies into a ſmall compaſs; and then it may give us an Idea of the Proportions, but not a clearer View of all the Partcular Beauties or Deformities.

   1711, [John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough], A Pair of Spectacles for Oliver’s Looking-glass Maker, London: Printed, and sold by J. Baker, […], →OCLC, page 4

   This ruggedneſs of the Moon's ſurface is of great uſe to us, by reflecting the Sun's light to all ſides: for if the Moon were ſmooth and poliſhed like a looking-glaſs, or covered with water, ſhe could never diſtribute the Sun's light all round; […]

   1756, James Ferguson, Astronomy explained upon Sir Isaac Newton's Principles

   He [Frederick William I of Prussia] commanded his physician to tell him exactly how long he had to live; and when he answered, ‘about half an hour,’ he asked for a looking-glass, and said, with a smile, that he did look ill enough, and saw ‘qu’il ferait une vilaine grimace en mourant.’

   1812 November, “Art. I. Memoires de Frederique Sophie Wilhelmine de Prusse, Margrave de Bareith, Sœur de Frederic le Grand. Ecrits de sa Main. 8vo. 2 Tomes. Brunswick, Paris, et Londres. 1812.”, in The Edinburgh Review, or Critical Journal, volume XX, number XL, Edinburgh: Printed by David Willison, for Archibald Constable and Company, […], and White, Cochrane & Co., […], →OCLC, page 274

   [T]wo days before Captain [Hugh] Clapperton died, he requested to be shaved, as he was too weak to sit up. After the operation, he asked for a looking-glass, remarked that he was "doing better," and should certainly "get over it." The morning on which he died, he breathed loud, became restless, and shortly afterwards expired in [Richard] Lander's arms.

   1828 September, “Biographical Memoirs of Eminent Persons. [Captain Clapperton.]”, in The Monthly Magazine or British Register of Literature, Sciences, and the Belles-lettres, volume VI (New Series), number 33, London: Published by Geo[rge] B[yrom] Whittaker, […], →OCLC, page 324

   Many sorts of glass were in the market, called Lambeth or Ratcliffe, Normandy, German, white and green, Dutch, Newcastle, Staffordshire, and Bristol glass, looking glass and jealous glass. […] Looking glass plates were sometimes used in windows.

   1845, Walter Bernan [pseudonym; Robert Meikleham], “Essay VIII”, in On the History and Art of Warming and Ventilation Rooms and Buildings […], volume I, London: George Bell, […], →OCLC, footnote †, page 225

   Synonyms: mirror

2. A way into a bizarre world.

   It has been quite a week in politics. […] I know that some Republicans feel as if they've fallen through the looking glass.

   2016 July 29, Paul Krugman, “Who loves America?”, in The New York Times

   Synonyms: rabbit hole