specula Latin · revision 10000
17 Oct 2026, 01:25 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{homograph|1|lookout}}
+
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Varro|origins=ine-pro *speḱ-}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈspɛ.kʊ.ɫa]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈspɛː.ku.la]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''specula''' ''f'' (genitive speculae); first declension^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ This word is from [[speciō]] “to look” with [[m|la|-ula]]; compare [[speculum]] “mirror”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces ⟨speciō⟩ to [[ine-pro|*spéḱ-ye/o-|t=to look]].^(de Vaan 2008)
+
+ ==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.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==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.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)
+
+ British Medieval Latin used it for a watchtower, vantage point, and figuratively a prominent position.^(DMLBS)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a beacon post.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of watching.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A [[m|en|lookout]], [[m|en|watchtower]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)
+ # Watching, spying.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[speculor]]
+ * [[speculātor]]
+
+ {{homograph|2|slight hope}}
+
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *speh₁-}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈspeː.kʊ.ɫa]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈspɛː.ku.la]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''spēcula''' ''f'' (genitive spēculae); first declension^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ This word is [[af|la|spēs|-cula|t1=hope]], a diminutive, formed like [[rēcula]] from ⟨rēs⟩.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces ⟨spēs⟩ to [[ine-pro|*spéh₁-s|t=prosperity]], cognate with [[sa|स्फिर|tr=sphirá-|t=fat]].^(de Vaan 2008)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Lewis & Short and Gaffiot cite Plautus, ''estne quid in tē speculae?'' “is there any hope in you?”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant a slight hope, a ray of hope, as in Plautus and Cicero, and Lewis & Short call it rare but classical.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A slight [[m|en|hope]], a ray of hope.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[speciō]]
+ * [[speculum]]
+ * [[spēs]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}