[f. as prec.]
† 1. Presentation to the eyes of spectators. Obs.
1607. Shaks., Cor., V. ii. 71. If thou stand’st not i’th state of hanging, or of some death more long in Spectatorship.
2. The state of being a spectator or beholder; the fact of (merely) looking on.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 304, ¶ 3. Moreover, your first rudimental Essays in Spectatorship were made in your Petitioner’s Shop, where you often practised for Hours.
1854. Mrs. Oliphant, Magd. Hepburn, III. 248. He stood … looking forth, if not with the exulting delight of his former spectatorship, at least with wistful eagerness and curiosity.
1881. H. James, Portrait of Lady, xv. What is the use of being … restricted to mere spectatorship, at the game of life?
1896. Eng. Churchm., 5 Nov., 745/1. England’s part in such an event could not … be one of mere spectatorship.
3. Spectators collectively.
a. 1836. Chalmers, Moral Philos., vii. Wks. V. 301. It … will be followed up by the instant and obstreperous glee of a whole host of spectatorship.
