Cymoscope

Pronunciation

• RP enPR: sīʹmÉ™skōp, IPA: /ˈsaɪmÉ™skəʊp/

Alternative forms

• cymatoscope philologically prescribed, but sees little actual use

Origin

First attested as cymatoscope in 1903 and as cymoscope in 1905; formed as cȳm- (the short stem of the Latin cȳma, from the Ancient Greek κῦμα, kūma, “wave”) + -o- + -scope. Cymatoscope is philologically prescribed in place of cymoscope because it preserves the long stem (κῡμᾰτ-, kūmat-) of its ultimate Ancient Greek etymon, which properly does not form compounds on its short stem (κῡμ-, kūm-).

Full definition of cymoscope

Noun

1. (wireless telegraphy, disused) A detector of electromagnetic wave.
• 1905, Engineering LXXIX, page 742Apparatus belonging to any of these groups might all be called a cymoscope, or wave-detector.