A spectacle is an impressive or striking show or event that attracts a lot of attention. In older use, *spectacles* also means eyeglasses.
From Latin *spectaculum* “a show, public display,” from *spectare* “to look at,” frequentative of *specere* “to see.” The idea is something put in front of people to be watched.
The same root that gave us *spectacle* also gave us *spectator* and *inspect*—they’re all about looking. Even eyeglasses as “spectacles” are literally “things you look through and with.”
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