spettacolo Italian · revision 38383

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1342, Domenico Cavalca|origins=la speciō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /spetˈta.ko.lo/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''spettacolo''' ''m'' (plural spettacoli)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|spectaculum|alt=spectāculum|t=sight, show; a show in the theatre or circus]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Prati 1951|938) The Latin noun is formed from [[m|la|spectō|t=to watch, look at]] with the instrumental suffix [[m|la|-culum]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Devoto 1968|420) That verb is a frequentative of [[m|la|speciō|t=to look at]], made on its past participle [[m|la|spectus]].^(Wiktionary) Nocentini notes that the Latin word properly meant what was seen at the theatre or the circus.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ Körting points out that the word came into every Romance language through the written language only: [[fr|spectacle]], recorded in French from the 12th century, [[es|espectáculo]] and [[pt|espetáculo]].^(Körting 1907)^(DEI|3588)^(Nocentini 2010) Old Italian also wrote it with a Latin spelling, as [[roa-oit|spectaculo]] and [[roa-oit|spettaculo]].^(TLIO)^(GDLI|19, 850)

+

+ DELI suggests that the adjective [[spettacolare]] (1942) may be modelled on [[en|spectacular]], recorded in 1682.^(DELI 1999) [[avanspettacolo|alt=Avanspettacolo]], the variety act shown before a film, is [[m|fr|avant-spectacle]].^(DEI|3588)^(Prati 1951|938)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is Domenico Cavalca's ''Vite dei santi padri'' (1321–1330, Pisan text in a Florentine copy), for something that presents itself to the eye.^(TLIO) In it the hermit watches ants carrying food in and out of a narrow hole, and “in questo spettacolo tutto il giorno istetti con gran diletto” (“I stayed all day at this sight with great delight”).^(GDLI|19, 850) DELI and Prati also cite an undated 14th-century translation of John Chrysostom for a public show, but DELI marks its date as doubtful.^(DELI 1999)^(Prati 1951|938)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old Italian the word had two branches: a sight remarkable for good or ill, often figurative (“a spectacle to the world”), and the games and theatre of ancient Rome, with the place where they were held.^(TLIO) Tommaseo still defined it first as a game or festival shown in public, such as a joust or a hunt.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861|4, 1097) A literary sense “the spectators” survived into the Renaissance in Jacopo Sannazaro and is now obsolete.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ The modern word names a theatrical, film, musical or television performance and each single showing of it, and since the 20th century the whole world of entertainment and the people who work in it (''il mondo dello spettacolo'').^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011) ''Dare spettacolo'' means to draw everyone's attention, either by real skill or by unseemly behaviour.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) ''Società dello spettacolo'' is a translation of [[fr|société du spectacle]].^(Treccani 2011) Placed after a noun and invariable, ''spettacolo'' describes something turned into a show for its sensational side: ''politica spettacolo'', ''informazione spettacolo''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1321–1330 – Domenico Cavalca uses ''spettacolo'' for a remarkable sight.^(TLIO)

+ * 14th century – A translation of John Chrysostom uses it for a public show, according to DELI (date doubtful).^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1682 – English ''spectacular'' is recorded, the probable model of ''spettacolare''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1816 – ''Spettacoloso'' appears in the Milanese press.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1934 – ''Avanspettacolo'' is recorded, from French.^(Prati 1951|938)

+ * 1942 – ''Spettacolare'' is recorded in Panzini's dictionary.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|performance]] or [[m|en|show]] given before an audience, in the theatre, cinema, television, music or sport: ''Lo spettacolo di burattini è piaciuto a tutti i bambini.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Each single showing of a programme: ''Siamo arrivati in ritardo per lo spettacolo delle nove.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(singular)'' The world of [[m|en|entertainment]] and the people who work in it: ''Lavora nello spettacolo da vent'anni.''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # A sight that strikes the eye because it is beautiful, unusual or dreadful; a [[m|en|spectacle]]: ''Dalla terrazza le luci della città erano uno spettacolo.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(after a noun, invariable)'' Turned into a show, aiming at sensation: ''politica spettacolo''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' The crowd of spectators.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[spettacolare]]

+ * [[spettacoloso]]

+ * [[avanspettacolo]]

+ * [[spettacolistico]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[spettatore]]

+ * [[spettare]]

+ * [[la|spectaculum]]

+ * [[fr|spectacle]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Dare spettacolo'' (“to make a show of oneself” or “to put on a fine display”) is a common set phrase.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020) ''Che spettacolo!'' is an exclamation of admiration.^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}