Something that is extremely ugly or unpleasant to look at, especially in a public place. An object or building that offends visual sensibilities.
Compound word from 'eye' plus 'sore,' first recorded in the 16th century. The metaphor treats the eye as capable of being wounded or pained by ugly sights, similar to how physical sores cause bodily pain.
The concept of an 'eyesore' reveals how deeply visual aesthetics affect us - we literally describe ugly things as causing pain to our eyes. Interestingly, what constitutes an eyesore varies dramatically across cultures and time periods, showing that aesthetic pain is largely learned.
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