English
spectator
Spectator comes from Latin spectātor ‘spectator, watcher’, from speciō ‘look at’, 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 at’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEspectō‘watch’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEspectātor‘spectator, watcher’
- Englishearliest quotation 1769spectator
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 at’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEspectō‘watch’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEspectātor‘spectator, watcher’
- Englishearliest quotation 1769spectator
Earliest quotation: 1769, Firishta, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi: “The ſpring diſplaying her elegant taſte, the proud walk…”
Formed from spectate + -or
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- ‘to see, to look, to observe’
spy, suspicion, microscope, espionage, skeptic, kaleidoscope, gyroscope, espy, 117 more
through Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti ‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’
scope, skeptical, endoscopic, macroscopic, spectroscopic, 115 more
through Proto-Italic *spekjō ‘to observe, see’
speculation, speculative, speculate, inconspicuous, especial, specular, 27 more
through Latin speciō ‘look at’
despite, special, specific, respect, species, perspective, spite, spice, aspect, inspection, inspector, specify, specimen, conspicuous, retrospective, inspect, retrospect, specious, speculator, 30 more
through Latin spectō ‘watch’
Today it means
noun One who watches an event; especially, an event held outdoors.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- / spectator