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Origin and history of spectacular

spectacular(adj.)

"pertaining to or of the nature of a show or spectacle," 1680s, from Latin spectaculum "a sight, show" (see spectacle) + -ar. As a noun, "a spectacular display," attested by 1890. Related: Spectacularly; spectacularity.

also from 1680s

Entries linking to spectacular

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.).

-ar

word-formation element meaning "pertaining to, of the nature of," from Latin -arem, -aris "of the kind of, belonging to," a secondary form (by dissimilation) of -alis, used after syllables with an -l- (such as insularis for *insulalis, stellaris for *stellalis).

*spek-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to observe."

It might form all or part of: aspect; auspex; auspices; auspicious; bishop; circumspect; conspicuous; despicable; despise; episcopal; especial; espionage; espy; expect; frontispiece; gyroscope; haruspex; horoscope; inspect; inspection; inspector; introspect; introspection; perspective; perspicacious; perspicacity; prospect; prospective; respect; respite; retrospect; scope; -scope; scopophilia; -scopy; skeptic; species; specimen; specious; spectacle; spectacular; spectrum; speculate; speculation; speculum; spice; spy; suspect; suspicion; suspicious; telescope.

It might also be the source of: Sanskrit spasati "sees;" Avestan spasyeiti "spies;" Greek skopein "behold, look, consider," skeptesthai "to look at," skopos "watcher, one who watches;" Latin specere "to look at;" Old High German spehhon "to spy," German spähen "to spy."

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    prominent
    mid-15c., "projecting, jutting out, standing out beyond the line or surface of something," from Latin prominentem (nominative prominens) "prominent," present participle of prominere "jut or stand out, be prominent, overhang," from pro "before, forward" (see pro-) + -minere "proje
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    1610s, "that strikes," in a physical sense, present-participle adjective from strike (v.). The meaning "producing a vivid impression, standing out, prominent, conspicuous" is by 1752, from the verb in the sense of "catch the fancy of" (1590s). Related: Strikingly; strikingness. A
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