Anastigmat

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A specialized lens that minimizes optical aberrations while providing uniform image clarity across various focal lengths
2. A form of optical device that ensures high-quality imagery by correcting distortions and maintaining sharpness at different distances
3. A lens designed to reduce or eliminate optical distortions to produce clear and sharp images across the field of view

Etymology: Its name is built from Greek parts meaning "without a point." The prefix "a-" means "without," and "stigma" once meant a mark or puncture, from a verb meaning "to prick." Opticians used "stigma" for the point a lens should focus light onto, so an "astigmatic" lens failed to bring light to a single point. The shorter form comes from "anastigmatic," meaning free of astigmatism, with the "a-" prefix added to negate the defect. The clipped version is the name of the lens itself.