Etymologically
Log in

specto

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 08:11. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

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

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