delineator
(dɪˈlɪniːeɪtə(r))
[agent-n. in L. form from dēlīneāre to delineate.]
1. One who delineates, sketches, or depicts.
| 1782 V. Knox Ess. 52 (R.) We are tempted to exclaim, with a modern delineator of characters, ‘Alas, poor human nature’. 1815 W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 202 An unbiassed delineator of facts. 1865 Wright Hist. Caricature vi. (1875) 100 The mediæval artists in general were not very good delineators of form. |
2. An instrument for tracing outlines.
| 1774 Specif. W. Storer's Patent No. 1183 An optical Instrument or accurate delineator. 1844 Civ. Eng. & Archit. Jrnl. VII. 237 A profile delineator..Improvements in apparatus for obtaining the profile of various forms or figures. |
3. (See quots.)
| a 1877 Knight Dict. Mech. 683/2 Delineator i. (Tailoring.) A pattern formed by rule; being expansible in the directions where the sizes vary, as indicated by the varying lengths obtained by measurement. 2. (Surveying.) A perambulator, or geodetical instrument on wheels, with registering devices for recording distances between points [etc.]. 1964 Punch 23 Sept. 442/3 The delineators are the small reflectors mounted on posts 132 feet apart [on U.S. roads]. |