spectacle French · revision 16658

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200, Dialogue Grégoire|origins=la speciō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /spɛk.takl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''spectacle''' ''m'' (plural spectacles)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French also ''epitacle'' (about 1130) and ''expectacle'' (about 1250); Middle French ''spectable'' (1466).^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|spectāculum|t=sight, view; show in the circus or theatre]],^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|12, 159a) from [[m|la|spectō|t=to look at, watch]], the frequentative of the archaic [[m|la|speciō|t=to look]], from the Indo-European root [[ine-pro|*spek-|t=to observe]].^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) The same Latin family gave [[aspect]], [[respect]], [[spectre]] and [[espèce]].^(DHLF 1992) An earlier form, [[m|fro|epitacle]] (about 1130), was altered by crossing with [[m|la|epitaphium|t=epitaph]], and [[m|frm|spectable]] (1466) by [[m|la|spectābilis|t=visible]].^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Compare [[it|spettacolo]] and [[de|Spektakel]].^(Littré 1873)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==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.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==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.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Oresme (1370) has ''maistre des spectacles'' for the games of antiquity.^(TLFi) 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).^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) Chastellain (about 1470) used it for a person admired by all, and Montaigne for what the mind observes.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ 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.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)^(BHVF) The adjective [[spectaculaire]] was formed about 1925 on the Latin word.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1130 – The altered form ''epitacle''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1200 – “Sight”, ''Dialogue Grégoire''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1280 – “Public entertainment”, ''Manuel des pechiez''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1370 – Games of antiquity, Oresme.^(TLFi)

+ * 1669 – ''Se donner en spectacle'', Racine.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1797 – ''Comédie à grand spectacle''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1925 – The derivative [[spectaculaire]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|sight]], whatever presents itself to the eye and may stir feeling: ''le spectacle de la mer'', ''au spectacle de'', at the sight of.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''Se donner en spectacle'': to make an exhibition of oneself.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A show, [[m|en|performance]] (theatre, film, dance, circus): ''salle de spectacle'', ''aller au spectacle''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Show business, the [[m|en|entertainment]] world: ''le monde du spectacle''.^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''À grand spectacle'': lavishly staged.^(GLLF 1989)^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[spectaculaire]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[spectateur]]

+ * [[aspect]]

+ * [[spectre]]

+ * [[respect]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}