spectacle

Where does the word "spectacle" come from? It comes from Latin spectaculum, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Spectacle’s story begins in Latin: spectaculum meant “a public show, a thing to look at.” A public show, a thing to be looked at, from specere (to look). It reached English by 1300s as spectacle. Settled as the English word for a visually striking public display. Today, spectacle means a visually striking performance or display, especially on a large scale.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient spectaculum "a public show, a thing to look at", a public show, a thing to be looked at, from specere (to look).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s spectacle "a visually striking public display or event", settled as the English word for a visually striking public display.