Etymologically
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specula

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specula1 lookout

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈspɛ.kʊ.ɫa][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈspɛː.ku.la][1]

Forms

specula f (genitive speculae); first declension[1]

Etymology

This word is from speciō “to look” with -ula; compare speculum “mirror”.[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨speciō⟩ to Proto-Indo-European *spéḱ-ye/o- (“to look”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is Varro, who defines it as the place from which we look out, and Köbler's earliest source is Cicero.[2][4][5] Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a high place for looking out, a lookout, watchtower, as of a beacon fire in Cicero, and in Apuleius the act of watching, spying.[2][4][6]

British Medieval Latin used it for a watchtower, vantage point, and figuratively a prominent position.[7]

Timeline

  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a beacon post.[6][5]
  • c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of watching.[2][5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A lookout, watchtower.[2][4]
  2. Watching, spying.[2]

Word family

specula2 slight hope

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈspeː.kʊ.ɫa][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈspɛː.ku.la][1]

Forms

spēcula f (genitive spēculae); first declension[1]

Etymology

This word is from Latin spēs (“hope”) + -cula, a diminutive, formed like rēcula from ⟨rēs⟩.[2][4][1] De Vaan traces ⟨spēs⟩ to Proto-Indo-European *spéh₁-s (“prosperity”), cognate with Sanskrit स्फिर (sphirá-, “fat”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lewis & Short and Gaffiot cite Plautus, estne quid in tē speculae? “is there any hope in you?”.[4][6] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a slight hope, a ray of hope, as in Plautus and Cicero, and Lewis & Short call it rare but classical.[2][4][6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[4][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[6][5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A slight hope, a ray of hope.[2][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press