Also 6–7 spectatour. [a. L. spectātor, agent-noun f. spectāre to look, whence also F. spectateur (1540), It. spettatore, Sp. and Pg. espectador.]
1. One who sees, or looks on at, some scene or occurrence; a beholder, onlooker, observer.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. x. (1912), 210–1. [He] thought no eyes of sufficient credite in such a matter, but his owne; and therefore came him selfe to be actor, and spectator.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), II. 27. There is a true saying, ‘That the spectator oft times sees more than the gamester.’
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxxi. 189. A signe is not a signe to him that giveth it, but to him to whom it is made; that is, to the spectator.
1677. W. Hubbard, Narrative (1865), I. 16. In such Passages as were variously reported by the Actors, or Spectators, that which seemed most probable is only inserted.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), II. 205. Even the agonies of the former, rather terrify the spectators, than torment the patient.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxxviii. Henri was a silent and astonished spectator of the scene.
1828. Lytton, Pelham, I. xvi. 112. There is some trick afloat to which we may as well be spectators.
1841. G. P. R. James, Brigand, xxxii. The hall was totally void of spectators.
† b. spec. A scientific observer. Obs. rare.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. iv. (1686), 10. They were conceived by the first Spectators to be but one Animal.
1787. Families of Plants, I. 259. Jacquin, Brown, and other Spectators consider it as a distinct Genus.
2. spec. One who is present at, and has a view or sight of, anything in the nature of a show or spectacle.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. iv. 27. The treachour … Me leading, in a secret corner layd, The sad spectatour of my Tragedie.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., IV. i. 20. Imagine me (Gentle Spectators) that I now may be In faire Bohemia.
1690. T. Burnet, Theory Earth, II. 214. This being the last act and close of all humane affairs, it ought to … satisfie the spectators, and end in a general applause.
1716. Lady M. W. Montagu, Let. C’tess Mar, 14 Sept. All the men of quality at Vienna were spectators.
1784. Cowper, Task, V. 878. Gods … that sit Amus’d spectators of this bustling stage.
1814. Jane Austen, Mansf. Park (1851), 103. Fanny began to be their only audience, and sometimes as prompter, sometines as spectator, was often very useful.
1855. Kingsley, Westw. Ho! III. vi. 179. He had been a pitying spectator of the tragedy.
1897. ‘Sarah Tytler,’ Lady Jean’s Son, x. 178. The opposite houses, crowded from top to bottom with spectators.
attrib. 1639. Cokaine, Masque, Dram. Wks. (1874), 13. When they have danced all they intended, the Lar, or one of the Masquers, invites the spectator-ladies with this song to join with them.
1891. Daily News, 12 Oct., 3/5. The spectator portion of the baths was crowded to its utmost capacity.
3. Used as the title of various periodical publications. Also Comb.
Freq. with distinguishing epithets, as The Catholic, Country, Modern, Monthly, Provincial, Temperance Spectator (published at various dates between 1792 and 1866).
1711–4. Addison (title), The Spectator.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 20, ¶ 2. Ever since the Spectator appear’d.
1714. Addison, Ibid. No. 567, ¶ 8. I intend shortly to publish a Spectator, that shall not have a single Vowel in it.
1728–37. (title), The Universal Spectator, and Weekly Journal.
1744. Eliza Heywood, Female Spectator, I. 5. Whatever Productions I shall be favour’d with from these Ladies … will be exhibited under the general Title of The Female Spectator.
1755. H. Walpole, Lett. (1846), III. 178. The Spectator-hacked phrases. Ibid. (1828) (title), The Spectator. A weekly journal of news, politics, literature, and science.
Hence Spectatordom, spectators collectively; Spectatorism, the practice of being a spectator or onlooker at sports or games.
1854. Thoreau, Walden, i. (1863), 49. He was there to represent spectatordom.
1889. Wykehamist, No 241. 317/1. There are distinct limits to the use of ‘spectatorism.’
