plebes media

specto, āvi, ātum, 1, v. freq. a. [id.], to look at, behold; to gaze at, watch, observe, etc. (freq. and class.; syn.: adspicio, speculor, conspicor, contueor).

Lit.

In gen.

With acc.:

speculum a speciendo, quod ibi se spectant,

Varr. L. L. 5, § 129 Müll.; cf. id. ib. 6, §

82 ib.: si vis videre ludos jucundissimos... amores tuos si vis spectare,

Plaut. Poen. 1, 1, 81:

spectare aliquid et visere,

Cic. Tusc. 1, 19, 44:

taceas, me spectes,

Plaut. As. 3, 3, 90:

quid illas spectas?

id. Rud. 3, 4, 54; id. Am. 1, 1, 268:

ere, ne me spectes,

Ter. Eun. 5, 5, 18:

corpora,

Lucr. 4, 1102:

ingentes acervos,

Hor. C. 2, 2, 24:

gaude quod spectant oculi te mille loquentem,

id. Ep. 1, 6, 19:

cum modo me spectas oculis protervis,

Ov. H. 16 (17), 77:

spectari tergo,

id. A. A. 3, 774:

Zoroaster primus siderum motus diligentissime spectasse dicitur,

Just. 1, 1, 9.—

With rel.clause:

tacitus te sequor, Spectans quas tu res hoc ornatu geras,

Plaut. Bacch. 1, 2, 2:

specta quam arcte dormiunt,

id. Most. 3, 2, 144; cf.:

saepe tui, specto, si sint in litore passus,

Ov. H. 18 (19), 27.—

Absol.:

vise, specta tuo arbitratu,

Plaut. Most. 3, 2, 106: Am. Sosia, age me huc aspice. So. Specto, id. Am. 2, 2, 119:

quam magis specto, minus placet mihi hominis facies,

id. Trin. 4, 2, 19:

alte spectare,

Cic. Rep. 6, 23, 25:

populo spectante,

Hor. Ep. 1, 6, 60.—

With ad, in, per, or adv. of place:

spectare ad carceris oras,

Enn. Ann. 1, 102:

quaeso huc ad me specta,

Plaut. Most. 3, 2, 149; so, ad me, Afran. ap. Isid. Orig. 12, 8, 16:

ad dexteram,

Plaut. Poen. 3, 4, 1:

tota domus, quae spectat in nos solos,

Cic. Off. 1, 17, 58:

ego limis specto Sic per flabellum clanculum,

Ter. Eun. 3, 5, 53:

quoquo hic spectabit, eo tu spectato simul,

Plaut. Ps. 3, 2, 69.—

Impers. pass. with subj. or final clause:

cum plausu congregari feros (pisces) ad cibum assuetudine, in quibusdam vivariis spectetur,

Plin. 10, 70, 89, § 193:

spectandum ne quoi anulum det,

Plaut. As. 4, 1, 33. —

With inf.:

spectet currere Gangem,

Sen. Herc. Oet. 629:

minaces ire per caelum faces specta,

id. ib. 325.—

In partic.

To look at or see (a play or an actor) as a spectator, to look on:

fabulam,

Plaut. Bacch. 2, 2, 37:

Megalesia,

Cic. Har. Resp. 11, 22; Hor. A. P. 190:

ludos,

id. S. 2, 6, 48; 2, 8, 79; id. Ep. 2, 1, 203; Suet. Aug. 40; 53 al.:

Circenses,

id. ib. 45; id. Claud. 4:

pugiles,

id. Aug. 45:

artifices saltationis,

id. Tit. 7 al. —With inf.:

spectavi ego pridem Comicos ad istum modum Sapienter dicta dicere atque is plaudier,

Plaut. Rud. 4, 7, 23:

matronae tacitae spectent, tacitae rideant,

id. Poen. prol. 32:

jam hic deludetur (Amphitruo), spectatores, vobis spectantibus,

id. Am. 3, 4, 15; cf. id. ib. prol. 151. —Hence, very often in inscrr. and tesseris: GLADIATORIIS SP., i. e. spectatus, of a gladiator who had stood the first public fight, Inscr. Orell. 2561 sq.; cf.: Morcelli delle tessere degli spettacoli Roma, Becker, Antiq. 4, p. 562.—

Of localities, to look, face, lie, be situated towards any quarter (syn.: prospicio, vergo); constr. usu. with ad, in, inter, etc., or an adv. of place; less freq. with acc.:

(hujus insulae) alter angulus ad orientem solem, inferior ad meridiem spectat,

Caes. B. G. 5, 13; so,

ad orientem solem,

id. ib. 7, 69:

ad fretum,

Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 66, § 169:

ager, qui in ventum Favonium spectet,

Varr. R. R. 1, 24, 1:

in urbem... in Etruriam,

Liv. 5, 5;

v. also infra: Aquitania spectat inter occasum solis et septentriones,

is situated to the north - west, Caes. B. G. 1, 1 fin.: quare fit, ut introversus et ad te Spectent atque ferant vestigia se omnia prorsus, Lucil. ap. Non. 402, 7; cf.:

ut ora eorum deorsum spectent,

Col. 12, 16, 4:

vestigia Omnia te adversum spectantia, nulla retrorsum,

Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 75:

quo (villae) spectent porticibus,

Varr. R. R. 1, 4, 4: Creta altior est, quā spectat orientem, Sall. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 6, 23 (H. 3, 58 Dietsch):

Acarnania solem occidentem et mare Siculum spectat,

Liv. 33, 17, 5:

mediterranea regio est, orientem spectat,

id. 25, 9, 10; 30, 25, 11:

quae et Tanaim et Bactra spectant,

Curt. 7, 7, 4; Plin. Ep. 5, 6, 15; Vell. 1, 11, 3:

ab eo latere, quo (Gadis) Hispaniam spectat,

Plin. 4, 21, 36, § 120; 6, 17, 20, § 53.— Transf., of nations:

Belgae spectant in septentriones et orientem solem,

Caes. B. G. 1, 1, 6:

Masaesyli in regionem Hispaniae spectant,

Liv. 28, 17.—

To examine, try, test:

(argentum) dare spectandum,

Plaut. Pers. 3, 3, 35:

ut fulvum spectatur in ignibus aurum, Tempore sic duro est inspicienda fides,

Ov. Tr. 1, 5, 25; cf.:

qui pecuniā non movetur... hunc igni spectatum arbitrantur,

as having stood the test of fire, Cic. Off. 2, 11, 38; cf. spectatio, I. B., and spectator, I. B.—

Trop.

In gen., to look at, behold, see, regard, consider (very rare):

specta rem modo!

Plaut. Bacch. 4, 6, 14:

audaciam meretricum specta,

Ter. Eun. 5, 5, 24:

importunitatem spectate aniculae,

id. And. 1, 4, 4:

suave, E terrā magnum alterius spectare laborem,

Lucr. 2, 2: caeli signorum admirabilem ordinem spectat, Cic. Fragm. ap. Non. 402, 17:

ad te unum omnis mea spectat oratio,

Cic. Deiot. 2, 5.—

In partic.

To look to a thing, as to an end or guide of action; hence, to have in view, bear in mind; to aim, strive, or endeavor after; to meditate; to tend, incline, refer, pertain, or have regard to a thing (freq. and class.;

syn.: contendo, pertineo, tendo): juvenes magna spectare et ad ea rectis studiis debent contendere,

Cic. Off. 2, 13, 45:

nec commune bonum poterant spectare,

Lucr. 5, 958:

rem, non hominem, spectari oportere,

Auct. Her. 1, 6, 9:

nihil spectat nisi fugam,

Cic. Att. 8, 7, 1:

Pompeius statuisse videtur, quid vos in judicando spectare oporteret,

id. Mil. 6, 15:

nos ea, quae sunt in usu vitāque communi, non ea quae finguntur aut optantur spectare debemus,

id. Lael. 5, 18:

ingenti consensu defectionem omnes spectare,

Liv. 22, 22, 21:

arma et bellum,

id. 3, 69, 2:

Romani, desperatā ope humanā, fata et deos spectabant,

id. 5, 16, 8; Curt. 9, 7, 2; Just. 13, 1, 8:

tota domus quae spectat in nos solos,

relies on, Cic. Off. 1, 17, 58:

in philosophiā res spectatur, non verba penduntur,

id. Or. 16, 51:

mores,

id. Off. 2, 20, 69; so (with sequi) id. de Or. 2, 50, 204:

quem locum probandae virtutis tuae spectas?

do you seek? Caes. B. G. 5, 44:

noli spectare, quanti homo sit,

Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 2, 4, § 14:

me spectasse semper, ut tibi possem quam maxime esse conjunctus,

id. Fam. 5, 8, 3:

ad imperatorias laudes,

id. Vatin. 10, 24:

ad suam magis gloriam quam ad salutem rei publicae,

id. Sest. 16, 37:

ad vitulam,

Verg. E. 3, 48:

cum plebes Nolana de integro ad defectionem spectaret,

Liv. 23, 16, 2; so id. 23, 6, 4:

ab scelere ad aliud spectare mulier scelus,

id. 1, 47, 1; 34, 56, 10.—Of subjects not personal:

et prima et media verba spectare debent ad ultimum,

Cic. Or. 59, 200:

ad arma rem spectare,

id. Fam. 14, 5, 1; cf.:

rem ad seditionem spectare,

Liv. 25, 3, 19:

ad vim spectare res coepit,

id. 1, 9, 6; cf.:

si ad perniciem patriae res spectabit,

Cic. Off. 2, 23, 90:

aliquid anquirunt, quod spectet et valeat ad bene beateque vivendum,

id. ib. 2, 2, 6:

ea non tam ad religionem spectant, quam ad jus sepulcrorum,

belong to, concern, id. Leg. 2, 23, 58:

quoniam de eo genere beneficiorum dictum est, quae ad singulos spectant: deinceps de iis, quae ad universos pertinent, disputandum est,

id. Off. 2, 21, 72; cf. id. ib. 1, 3, 7: artem negabat esse ullam, nisi quae cognitis et in unum exitum spectantibus, Cic. de Or. 1, 20, 92:

nostra consilia sempiternum tempus spectare debent,

id. ib. 2, 40, 169:

solvendi necessitas debitorem spectat,

Dig. 2, 14, 42:

res eo spectat, ut eā poenā non videamini esse contenti,

Cic. Lig. 5, 13:

hoc eo spectabat, ut eam (Pythiam) a Philippo corruptam diceret,

id. de Div. 2, 57, 118: summa judicii mei spectat huc, ut meorum injurias ferre possim, Anton. ap. Cic. Phil. 13, 20, 46:

quo igitur haec spectat oratio?

Cic. Att. 8, 2, 4; cf. id. Phil. 13, 20, 46:

quorsum haec omnis spectat oratio?

id. ib. 7, 9, 26 et saep.:

quia quicquid ad corpus spectat, et immortalitatis est expers, vanum sit,

Lact. 3, 12, 33.—

(Acc. to I. B. 3.) To judge of; to try, test (syn. probo):

nemo illum ex trunco corporis spectabat, sed ex artificio comico aestimabat,

Cic. Rosc. Com. 10, 28:

alicujus animum ex animo suo,

Ter. And. 4, 1, 22:

non igitur ex singulis vocibus philosophi spectandi sunt, sed ex perpetuitate atque constantiā,

Cic. Tusc. 5, 10, 31:

ex meo otium tuum specto,

id. Att. 12, 39:

quod ego non tam fastidiose in nobis quam in histrionibus spectari puto,

id. de Or. 1, 61, 258:

ubi facillime spectatur mulier, quae ingenio'st bono?

Plaut. Stich. 1, 2, 59; cf.:

hominem in dubiis periclis,

Lucr. 3, 55:

beneficium a deteriore parte,

Sen. Ben. 2, 28, 2.—Hence, spectātus, a, um, P. a. (acc. to II. B. 2.).

Tried, tested, proved (syn.: probatus, cognitus): tuam probatam et spectatam maxime adulescentiam, Lucil. ap. Non. 437, 14:

homines spectati et probati,

Cic. de Or. 1, 27, 124:

fides spectata et diu cognita,

id. Div. in Caecil. 4, 11; Ov. P. 2, 7, 82:

pietas spectata per ignes,

id. F. 4, 37:

integritas,

Liv. 26, 49, 16; cf.:

homo in rebus judicandis spectatus et cognitus,

Cic. Verr. 1, 10, 29:

spectata ac nobilitata virtus,

id. Fl. 26, 63:

spectata multis magnisque rebus singularis integritas,

id. Phil. 3, 10, 26:

rebus spectata juventus,

Verg. A. 8, 151:

utebatur medico ignobili, sed spectato homine, Cleophanto,

id. Clu. 16, 47:

mores,

Plaut. Pers. 2, 1, 4:

ni virtus fidesque vestra spectata mihi forent,

Sall. C. 20, 2.— Sup.:

id cuique spectatissimum sit, quod occurrerit, etc.,

let that be the best test of each, Liv. 1, 57, 7.—With subject-clause:

mihi satis spectatum est, Pompeium malle principem volentibus vobis esse quam, etc.,

Sall. H. 3, 61, 23 Dietsch.—

In gen., looked up to, respected, esteemed, worthy, excellent:

fecere tale ante alii spectati viri,

Plaut. Merc. 2, 2, 47:

in perfecto et spectato viro,

Cic. Lael. 2, 9:

homines,

id. Div. in Caecil. 7, 24:

castitas,

Liv. 1, 57, 10.— Comp.:

quo non spectatior alter,

Sil. 1, 440.— Sup.:

auctoritas clarissimi et spectatissimi viri atque in primis probati,

Cic. Fam. 5, 12, 7:

spectatissima femina,

id. Rosc. Am. 50, 147.—Of things (Plinian):

paeninsula spectatior (with flumen clarum),

Plin. 4, 18, 32, § 107:

spectatius artificium,

id. 11, 1, 1, § 1:

spectatissima laurus,

id. 15, 30, 40, § 134.— Hence, adv.: spectātē, splendidly, excellently:

spectatissime florere,

Plin. 21, 1, 1, § 2:

spectatissime ministrere,

Amm. 28, 3, 9.