specto

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈspɛk.toː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈspɛk.to]^[1]

Forms

spectō (present infinitive spectāre, perfect active spectāvī, supine spectātum); first conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is a frequentative of speciō “to look at”, formed on its participle with the suffix -tō.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citation is Ennius, of looking at something.^[2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to look at, watch, gaze at, as in Plautus and Terence, to watch a show as a spectator, and to observe.^[2][5] It meant to look at with admiration, to examine, test coins, as in Plautus, and to judge by a standard.^[2] It meant to look to someone for support or guidance, to consider, regard, and to have in view, aim at, as in Cicero.^[2] Of places it meant to face, lie towards, as in Cato; of things to point to a conclusion; and to concern, bear on.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to observe, behold, contemplate, tend towards, pertain to.^[6] It survives in Italian spettare “to be due to”.^[1] English spectator comes from its agent noun in the 1580s, and English expect from its compound exspectō.^[7]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of looking at something.^[2][4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of watching and testing coins.^[2][4]
• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of facing a direction.^[2][4]
• 1580s – English spectator is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Verb

1. To look at, watch.^[2]
2. To watch (a show) as a spectator.^[2]
3. To examine; to test.^[2]
4. To look to (for help or guidance).^[2]
5. To consider; to aim at.^[2]
6. (of places) To face.^[2]
7. To point to; to concern.^[2]

Word family

• aspectō
• circumspectō
• dēspectō
• exspectō
• īnspectō
• introspectō
• perspectō
• prōspectō
• respectō
• spectābilis
• spectāculum
• spectāmen

Related words

• spectrum
• specula
• speculātor
• speculātrīx
• speculor
• speculum
• speciō
• English spectator
• English expect

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com