Vi″sion (?), n. [OE. visioun, F. vision, fr. L. visio, from videre, visum, to see: akin to Gr. � to see, � I know, and E. wit. See Wit, v., and cf. Advice, Clairvoyant, Envy, Evident, Provide, Revise, Survey, View, Visage, Visit.] 1. The act of seeing external objects; actual sight.
Faith here is turned into vision there. Hammond.
2. (Physiol.) The faculty of seeing; sight; one of the five senses, by which colors and the physical qualities of external objects are appreciated as a result of the stimulating action of light on the sensitive retina, an expansion of the optic nerve.
3. That which is seen; an object of sight. Shak.
4. Especially, that which is seen otherwise than by the ordinary sight, or the rational eye; a supernatural, prophetic, or imaginary sight; an apparition; a phantom; a specter; as, the visions of Isaiah.
The baseless fabric of this vision. Shak.
No dreams, but visions strange. Sir P. Sidney.
5. Hence, something unreal or imaginary; a creation of fancy. Locke.
Arc of vision(Astron.), the arc which measures the least distance from the sun at which, when the sun is below the horizon, a star or planet emerging from his rays becomes visible. — Beatific vision(Theol.), the immediate sight of God in heaven. — Direct vision(Opt.), vision when the image of the object falls directly on the yellow spot (see under Yellow); also, vision by means of rays which are not deviated from their original direction. — Field of vision, field of view. See under Field. — Indirect vision(Opt.), vision when the rays of light from an object fall upon the peripheral parts of the retina. — Reflected vision, orRefracted vision, vision by rays reflected from mirrors, or refracted by lenses or prisms, respectively. — Vision purple. (Physiol.) See Visual purple, under Visual.