a. and sb. [a. Fr. acoustique, ad. Gr. ἀκουστικ-ός pertaining to hearing, f. ἀκού-ειν to hear. The reg. Eng. representative of the Gr. would be acustic.]
A. adj. Pertaining to the sense of hearing, used in hearing, auditory; adapted to aid hearing; pertaining to the science of audible sounds.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., 135. This hath place … in Acoustique Art; for the Instrument of hearing is like to the straits and winding within a Cave.
1743. trans. Heister’s Surg., 435. An acoustic Instrument so small as to be concealed under one’s Wig.
1822. Imison, Sc. & Art, I. 230. A very useful contrivance, called acoustic or speaking tubes, which are now fixed up in houses for the purpose of speaking from one story to another.
1855. Owen, Skel. & Teeth, 34. The acoustic capsule remains in great part cartilaginous.
1864. Reader, 18 June, 783/2. The two primary sounds, the co-existence of which gives rise to the acoustic figures, are not in absolute unison.
1865. Pall Mall G., 30 June, 11. The drawing-room … formed a very aristocratic but not very acoustic theatre for the display of their talents.
1867. Under One Roof, 14, in Chambers’s Jrnl, 25 Dec. Mrs. Clevedon’s ears, though exquisitely shaped, were very sharp in the acoustic sense.
1871. Tyndall, Frag. Science, I. x. 331 (ed. 6). There we had the acoustic opacity of the air.
1873. Sir J. Herschel, Pop. Lect., vii. § 102. 318. An evident acoustic shadow.
1878. Foster, Physiol., III. i. 392. The olfactory, optic and acoustic nerves are purely sensory nerves.
1879. Prescott, Sp. Telephone, 47. Already has the acoustic telegraph been invented. Ibid., 49. A perfect system of acoustic telegraphy.
B. sb.
1. A medicine or appliance that assists hearing.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., Acousticks, Medicines or instruments which help the hearing.
1727. Swift, Gulliver, III. vi. 216. Administer to each of them … accoustics.
1790. Bailey (ed. Harwood) [as in Harris].
2. in pl.: see ACOUSTICS.
