perspectus

Perspectus is a Latin term that functions as a past participle forming an adjective meaning "seen" or "viewed." In Latin contexts, perspectus appears in discussions of sight, view, or appearance and can be used attributively to mean "visible" or "in view." In English-language scholarship, perspectus is primarily encountered as a historical or linguistic term rather than as a stand-alone concept, often appearing in discussions of Latin vocabulary or in translations where the idea of view or perspective is conveyed from Latin.

The word is closely related to modern English terms such as perspective, perspectival, and perspective drawing, as well as to the Italian prospettiva and the historical Latin perspectiva used in optics and art theory. In this sense, perspectus serves as a historical root illustrating how the notion of seeing and viewpoint evolved in Western thought.

There is no widely used contemporary discipline or standard named "Perspectus." When encountered in texts, it is typically part of philological or historical discussion, or may appear as a proper noun in the form of a title or name. Some writers note that perspectus should not be confused with prospectus, a distinct term meaning a published document describing a project, investment, or course of study.

See also: perspective, perspectival, perspicacity, optics, perspective drawing, perspectiva, prospectus.