handglass

A woman uses a handglass to examine a delicate flower.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small mirror with a handle: "handglass" refers to a handheld mirror, often used for personal grooming or inspection.
   • A magnifying glass with a handle: "handglass" also denotes a magnifying lens mounted on a handle, used for examining small objects closely.

Usage Examples

• Noun (small mirror):

  • She checked her makeup in a handglass before leaving the house. (A small mirror with a handle for personal use.)
  • The antique shop sold a silver handglass from the Victorian era. (A handheld mirror, often decorative.)

• Noun (magnifying glass):

  • The jeweler used a handglass to inspect the diamond's clarity. (A magnifying lens with a handle for detailed examination.)
  • A handglass is essential for reading tiny print in old manuscripts. (A handled magnifier for close work.)

Advanced Usage

• "to hold a handglass up to": to examine something closely or critically.
  • The critic held a handglass up to the painting's technique. (To scrutinize or evaluate in detail.)

Variants and Related Words

• Handglass (compound noun): the word is itself a compound of "hand" and "glass," but no common variants exist; it is a specific term.
• Handheld mirror (synonymous phrase): a mirror designed to be held in the hand.
• Hand lens (synonymous term): a magnifying lens with a handle, used in fieldwork.

Synonyms

• Looking-glass: a mirror, especially a handheld one (archaic).
• Magnifier: a device that makes objects appear larger, often with a handle.

Related Idioms

• "Look in the handglass": to reflect on one's own appearance or actions (rare, metaphorical).
  • Before judging others, look in the handglass first. (Examine yourself before criticizing.)

Notes on Usage

• The word "handglass" is somewhat archaic or specialized; in modern English, "hand mirror" or "magnifying glass" is more common for the respective meanings. It may appear in historical texts or descriptions of antiques.