English
retrospective
Retrospective comes from Latin retrōspiciō ‘to look back at’, from Proto-Italic *spekjō ‘to observe, see’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *speḱ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*speḱ-‘to see, to look, to observe’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*spéḱyeti‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*spekjō‘to observe, see’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeciō‘look’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEretrōspiciō‘to look back at’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEretrōspectusperfect passive participle of retrōspiciō
- Englishearliest quotation 2015retrospective
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*speḱ-‘to see, to look, to observe’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*spéḱyeti‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*spekjō‘to observe, see’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeciō‘look’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEretrōspiciō‘to look back at’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEretrōspectusperfect passive participle of retrōspiciō
- Englishearliest quotation 2015retrospective
Earliest quotation: 2015, Louise Taylor: “While the pictures of what precisely unfolded after Cissé…”
Formed from retrospect + -ive
Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- ‘to see, to look, to observe’
…
Proto-Italic *spekjō ‘to observe, see’
Latin speciō ‘look’
Latin retrōspicio ‘to look back at’
Latin retrōspectum
English retrospect
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- ‘to see, to look, to observe’
spy, suspicion, espionage, microscope, skeptic, kaleidoscope, gyroscope, espy, 114 more
through Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti ‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’
scope, skeptical, endoscopic, macroscopic, spectroscopic, 112 more
through Proto-Italic *spekjō ‘to observe, see’
speculation, speculate, speculative, inconspicuous, especial, specular, 24 more
through Latin speciō ‘look’
special, despite, specific, species, respect, spite, aspect, spice, inspector, perspective, spectrum, spectacular, inspection, expectation, specify, specimen, conspicuous, spectacle, inspect, spectator, expectant, specter, speculator, specious, circumspect, 27 more
Today it means
adj Of, relating to, or contemplating the past.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- / retrospective