Blindness Study Guide

Glossary of Terms

Agnosia

Condition where the brain becomes unable to identify objects seen by the eyes.

Amaurosis

Condition where the brain spontaneously becomes unable to process images, leading to total blindness.

Anthropophagy

The practice of eating other human beings; cannibalism. Used to refer to both nutritional and ritual consumption of other humans.

Chorizo

A kind of spicy sausage that is common throughout the Portuguese and Spanish speaking world.

Commission

The opposite of omission, used to refer to the process of seeking out or achieving something. Alludes to the Catholic distinction between sins of omission and commission: "Forgive us for what we have done and what we have failed to do."

Concave

A plane or a line that curves away from the viewer. Often used to refer to lenses.

Conjunctivitis

"Pink eye" or "Madras eye." A temporary condition in which the conjunctiva or connective tissue around the eyeball becomes inflamed.

Convex

A plane or a line that curves towards the viewer. Often used to refer to lenses.

Delinquency

Failure to do what the law requires.

Expropriation

The confiscation of private property by the state or by another person.

Offal

Internal organs of an animal, often consumed for food. Includes tripe, brains, tongue, heart, head and even bones and marrow.

Omission

The opposite of commission, used to refer to the process of failing to do or avoiding something. Alludes to the Catholic distinction between sins of omission and commission: "Forgive us for what we have done and what we have failed to do."

Ophthalmascope

A medical instrument used to examine the eye. Consists of a light and a magnifying glass, used to examine the health of the vitreous humor.

Phosphorized

Process by which flammable gasses begin to burn constantly, without spreading or going out. Seen in will'o'wisps, or swamp gas.

Quarantine

Noun or verb. Technique whereby infected members of a population are isolated in order to avoid the spread of contagion among the population.

Reconnoitre

Explore with the intent to find information; reconnaissance.

Refuse

Garbage

Torpor

Literally, torpor refers to temporary hibernation where the organism slows down its metabolic functions. Figuratively, torpor can refer to any state of deep sleep or inaction.

Vertigo

An inability to get one's balance or orient oneself. May be a result of trauma to the inner ear or psychologically induced.

Vicissitude

The details or interior of a thing or an operation.