a. and sb. [f. Gr. ἀνάκλαστ-ος refracted (f. ἀνά-κλά-ειν to refract, bend back, f. κλά-ειν to break) + -IC.] A. adj.
1. Opt. Pertaining to refraction; produced by refraction through a medium of different density.
1796. Hutton, Math. Dict., Anaclastic Curves, a name given by M. de Mairan to certain apparent curves formed at the bottom of a vessel full of water … or the vault of the heavens, seen by refraction through the atmosphere.
1879. Syd. Soc. Lex., Anaclastic, applied to that point where a luminous ray is refracted.
2. Springing back with a crackling sound; as in Anaclastic Glasses (see quot.).
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Anaclastic glasses are a low kind of phials with flat bellies, resembling inverted funnels, whose bottoms are very thin … and … a little convex. But upon applying the mouth to the orifice, and gently … sucking out the air, the bottom gives way with a horrible crack, and of convex becomes concave. On the contrary upon … breathing gently into the orifice, the bottom with no less noise bounds back to its former place.
1815. Encycl. Brit., II. 166. Anaclastic Glasses, a kind of sonorous phials or glasses, chiefly made in Germany.
B. sb. [Cf. acoustics.] The part of optics that treats of refraction; dioptrics.
1696. Phillips, Anaclatics, a part also of Opticks which by the Lines of the Stars, and other visual Objects, refracted in a medium of a different thickness, measures their figures, magnitudes, distances, etc. [So spelt and defined in Bailey, Johnson, Ash.]
1789. Howard, Encycl., Anaclastics.
