anything presented to the sight or view, esp. something of a striking or impressive kind: The stars make a fine spectacle tonight.
2.
a public show or display, esp. on a large scale: The coronation was a lavish spectacle.
3.
spectacles. eyeglasses, esp. with pieces passing over or around the ears for holding them in place.
4.
Often, spectacles.
a.
something resembling spectacles in shape or function.
b.
any of various devices suggesting spectacles, as one attached to a semaphore to display lights or different colors by colored glass.
5.
Obsolete. a spyglass.
—Idiom
6.
make a spectacle of oneself, to call attention to one's unseemly behavior; behave foolishly or badly in public: They tell me I made a spectacle of myself at the party last night.
[Origin: 1300–50; ME < L spectāculum a sight, spectacle, deriv. of spectāre, freq. of specere to look, regard. See -cle2]
Something that can be seen or viewed, especially something of a remarkable or impressive nature.
A public performance or display, especially one on a large or lavish scale.
A regrettable public display, as of bad behavior: drank too much and made a spectacle of himself.
A pair of eyeglasses.
Something resembling eyeglasses in shape or suggesting them in function.
spectacles
A pair of eyeglasses.
Something resembling eyeglasses in shape or suggesting them in function.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin spectāculum, from spectāre, to watch, frequentative of specere, to look at; see spek- in Indo-European roots.]
c.1340, "specially prepared or arranged display," from O.Fr. spectacle, from L. spectaculum "a show, spectacle," from spectare "to view, watch," frequentative form of specere "to look at," from PIE *spek- "to observe" (see scope (1)). Spectacles "glass lenses to help a person's sight" first recorded 1415. Spectacular (adj.) is from 1682; as a noun, first attested 1890.
Ex*pect"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expected; p. pr. & vb. n. Expecting.] [L. expectatum, to look out for, await, expect; ex + out spectare to look at. See Spectacle.]1. To wait for; to await. [Obs.] Let's in, and there expect their coming. --Shak. 2. To look for (mentally); to look forward to, as to something that is believed to be about to happen or come; to have a previous apprehension of, whether of good or evil; to look for with some confidence; to anticipate; -- often followed by an infinitive, sometimes by a clause (with, or without, that); as, I expect to receive wages; I expect that the troops will be defeated. "Good: I will expect you." --Shak. "Expecting thy reply." --Shak. The Somersetshire or yellow regiment . . . was expected to arrive on the following day. --Macaulay. Syn: To anticipate; look for; await; hope. Usage: To Expect, Think, Believe, Await. Expect is a mental act and has aways a reference to the future, to some coming event; as a person expects to die, or he expects to survive. Think and believe have reference to the past and present, as well as to the future; as I think the mail has arrived; I believe he came home yesterday, that he is he is at home now. There is a not uncommon use of expect, which is a confusion of the two; as, I expect the mail has arrived; I expect he is at home. This misuse should be avoided. Await is a physical or moral act. We await that which, when it comes, will affect us personally. We expect what may, or may not, interest us personally. See Anticipate.
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