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Origin and history of spectacle

spectacle(n.)

mid-14c., "public entertainment, specially prepared or arranged display," from Old French spectacle "sight, spectacle, Roman games" (13c.), from Latin spectaculum "a public show, spectacle, place from which shows are seen," from spectare "to view, watch, behold," frequentative form of specere "to look at" (from PIE root *spek- "to observe").

The sense of "object of public contempt, derision or wonderment" is from mid-14c. Also "device for assisting or enhancing vision" (late 14c.), "glass or other transparent material" (early 15c.).

also from mid-14c.

Entries linking to spectacle

spec(n.)

by 1794, American English, as a shortening of speculation. By 1926 in circus slang as a shortening of spectacle. By 1956 as "detailed description or standard," especially in manufacturing and construction, short for specification. Related: Specs.

spectacles(n.)

"pair of lenses set in a frame adjusted to help a person's sight," early 15c., from plural of spectacle. Earlier in singular form spectacle "device for assisting or enhancing vision" (late 14c.).

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spectator
"one who looks on, a beholder," 1580s, from Latin spectator "viewer, watcher," agent noun from past-participle stem of spectare "to view, watch" (see spectacle). Related: Spectatorial; spectatorship. Fem. form spectatress (1630s) is less classically correct than spectatrix (1610s
panorama
coined c. 1789 by inventor, Irish artist Robert Barker, literally "a complete view," from pan- "all" + Greek horama "sight, spectacle...
traduce
1580s, from Latin traducere in the sense of "scorn or disgrace," a figurative use from the notion of "to lead along as a spectacle...
beryl
Medieval Latin berillus was applied to any precious stone of a pale green color, to fine crystal, and to eyeglasses (the first spectacle...
drama
into the action of a play," from Late Latin drama "play, drama," from Greek drama (genitive dramatos) "action, deed; play, spectacle...
theory
from Late Latin theoria (Jerome), from Greek theōria "contemplation, speculation; a looking at, viewing; a sight, show, spectacle...
pageant
The generalized sense of "showy parade, spectacle" is attested by 1805, though this notion is found in pageantry (1650s)....
sight
Middle English sight, from Old English sihð, gesiht, gesihð "thing seen; power or faculty of sight; aspect; vision; apparition," from Proto-Germanic *sekh(w)- (source also of Danish sigte, Swedish sigt, Middle Dutch sicht, Dutch zicht, Old High German siht, German Sicht, Gesicht)
display
c. 1300, "unfold, spread out, unfurl" (a banner, etc.), from Old French desploiir (Modern French déployer) "unfold, unfasten, spread out" (of knots, sealed letters, etc.), from Latin displicare "to scatter," in Medieval Latin "to unfold," from dis- "un-, apart" (see dis-) + plica
blooper
"blunder," 1943, apparently first in stage jargon, perhaps from the baseball slang meaning "a fly ball in a high arc missed by the fielder" (1937) or else from the earlier meaning "radio receiver that interferes with nearby sets" when a careless operator throws it into oscillatio

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