spectaculum Latin · revision 30770

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *speḱ-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''spectāculum''' ''n'' (genitive spectāculī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also spelled ''spectāclum'' (Plautus, Propertius, the ''Rēs gestae'' of Augustus).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|spectō|-culum|t1=to look at, watch]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) [[m|la|spectō]] is the frequentative of [[m|la|speciō|t=to look]], which de Vaan traces to [[ine-pro|*speḱ-|t=to look]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who has ''quom hoc mī optulistī tam lepidum spectāculum'', “since you have shown me so charming a sight”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Spectāculum'' is a sight, something to look at, and above all a show put on for entertainment, especially games of gladiators and the like (Cicero).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) In the plural it is the seats of the spectators in a theatre (Plautus: the wind blows down the ''spectācula''), and it is also the act of watching (Livy: the Romans came out in crowds to watch the fight).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “show, spectacle, sight”.^(Stelten 1995) English [[m|en|spectacle]] (mid-14th century) comes from it through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''tam lepidum spectāculum''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of a lavish show.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy: ''ad spectāculum pugnae''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-14th century – English [[m|en|spectacle]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A sight, [[m|en|spectacle]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A show, public entertainment, games.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(plural)'' The spectators' seats.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Watching, viewing.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[spectō]]

+ * [[speciō]]

+ * [[spectātor]]

+ * [[en|spectacle]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}