Etymologically
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spectacle

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /spɛk.takl/[1]

Forms

spectacle m (plural spectacles)[1] Old French also epitacle (about 1130) and expectacle (about 1250); Middle French spectable (1466).[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin spectāculum (“sight, view; show in the circus or theatre”),[3][2][4][5][6] from spectō (“to look at, watch”), the frequentative of the archaic speciō (“to look”), from the Indo-European root Proto-Indo-European *spek- (“to observe”).[2][7] The same Latin family gave aspect, respect, spectre and espèce.[2] An earlier form, epitacle (about 1130), was altered by crossing with epitaphium (“epitaph”), and spectable (1466) by spectābilis (“visible”).[2]

Compare Italian spettacolo and German Spektakel.[8][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Dialogue Grégoire (about 1200) uses it for something offered to the eyes that can stir feelings: a king sat el spectacle to watch a bishop thrown to the bears.[3]

Semantic evolution

Before the end of the 13th century the word took the other Latin sense, “entertainment presented to the public”, first of mystery plays (about 1280, in the Anglo-Norman Manuel des pechiez), though that use spread only from the Renaissance.[3][2] Oresme (1370) has maistre des spectacles for the games of antiquity.[3] The phrase estre a spectacle “to be exposed to view” (1355) became être en spectacle in the classical period, se donner en spectacle “to make an exhibition of oneself” is in Racine (1669).[2][7] Chastellain (about 1470) used it for a person admired by all, and Montaigne for what the mind observes.[3][2]

Later uses include the staging of a show (La Fontaine, 1675), pièce à grand spectacle with lavish staging (1797), and, in the 20th century, show business as a whole.[3][7][9] The adjective spectaculaire was formed about 1925 on the Latin word.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 1130 – The altered form epitacle.[2]
  • c. 1200 – “Sight”, Dialogue Grégoire.[3]
  • c. 1280 – “Public entertainment”, Manuel des pechiez.[3]
  • 1370 – Games of antiquity, Oresme.[3]
  • 1669 – Se donner en spectacle, Racine.[7]
  • 1797 – Comédie à grand spectacle.[3]
  • c. 1925 – The derivative spectaculaire.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A sight, whatever presents itself to the eye and may stir feeling: le spectacle de la mer, au spectacle de, at the sight of.[10][7]
  2. Se donner en spectacle: to make an exhibition of oneself.[10][1]
  3. A show, performance (theatre, film, dance, circus): salle de spectacle, aller au spectacle.[10][1]
  4. Show business, the entertainment world: le monde du spectacle.[7][10]
  5. À grand spectacle: lavishly staged.[7][9]

Word family

  • spectaculaire

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  4. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 12, 159a
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  9. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  10. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert