Focus is the center of interest or attention, or the point where things come together clearly. As a verb, it means to direct your attention or a device, like a camera or eye, so that something becomes clear.
“Focus” originally meant “hearth” in Latin, the fire at the center of a home. Scientists borrowed it in the 17th century to describe the point where light rays meet, and from there it gained its mental meaning.
The jump from “hearth” to “mental focus” is actually logical: both are about a central spot where energy gathers. When you “focus” your mind, you’re doing mentally what a lens does with light—pulling scattered rays into one hot point.
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