602. Spectacle

1. Aïda opera renowned for its scenic grandeur; sometimes played with on-stage elephants. [Ital. Opera: Verdi Aïda in Benét, 16]
2. Barnum and Bailey circus “greatest show on earth,” famed for outstanding displays. [Am. Culture: Collier’s, V, 110]
3. Birth of a Nation, The D. W. Griffith’s monumental Civil War film. [Am. Cinema: Halliwell, 51]
4. Ziegfeld Follies elaborate New York musical entertainment (1907–1931) with gorgeous settings and dancers. [Am. Theater: NCE, 3045]
5. Folies Bergère opulent musical show in Paris featuring dancers, rich costumes and scenery. [Fr. Theater: EB (1972 ed.), IX, 515]

Speed (See SWIFTNESS .)

spectacle prepared display, object exhibited; (now usu. pl.) device for assisting defective eyesight. XIV. — (O)F. — L. spectāculum public show, spectators in a theatre, f. spectāre, frequent. f. specere look at.
So spectator onlooker. XVI. — F. or L. spectre, U.S. specter XVII. — F. spectre or L. spectrum (whence also spectrum spectre; coloured band into which a beam of light is decomposed. XVII; comb. form spectro-, as in spectroscope). speculate (-ATE2) †observe, consider XVI; engage in thought XVIII; engage in buying and selling for gain XVIII. f. pp. stem of L. speculārī spy out, watch, f. specula lookout, watch-tower. speculation, speculative XIV. — (O)F. or late L. speculum surgical instrument for examining XVI; mirror, reflector XVII. — L.

spec·ta·cle / ˈspektəkəl/ • n. a visually striking performance or display: the acrobatic feats make a good spectacle | the show is pure spectacle. ∎  an event or scene regarded in terms of its visual impact: the spectacle of a city's mass grief.PHRASES: make a spectacle of oneself draw attention to oneself by behaving in a ridiculous way in public.

spectacle See SERPENTES.