different between spectacle vs extravagance

English

Etymology

From Middle English spectacle, from French spectacle, from Latin spect?culum (“a show, spectacle”), from spect? (“to see, behold”), frequentative of speci? (“to see”). See species.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?sp?kt?kl?/
• Hyphenation: spec?ta?cle

Noun

spectacle (plural spectacles)

1. An exciting or extraordinary scene, exhibition, performance etc.
   • 22 March 2012, Scott Tobias, AV Club The Hunger Games[1]

     In movie terms, it suggests Paul Verhoeven in Robocop/Starship Troopers mode, an R-rated bloodbath where the grim spectacle of children murdering each other on television is bread-and-circuses for the age of reality TV, enforced by a totalitarian regime to keep the masses at bay.

2. An embarrassing or unedifying scene or situation.

3. (usually in the plural) An optical instrument consisting of two lenses set in a light frame, worn to assist sight, or to protect the eyes from bright light.
4. (figuratively) Something that helps understanding.

   • Povert' a spectacle is, as thinketh me, Through which he may his very friendes see.

5. (obsolete) A spyglass; a looking-glass.
6. The brille of a snake.
7. (rail transport) A frame with different coloured lenses on a semaphore signal through which light from a lamp shines at night, often a part of the signal arm.

Synonyms

• (exciting event): show; pageant
• (optical instrument): glasses, eyeglasses, specs

Derived terms

• bespectacled
• counterspectacle
• make a public spectacle of oneself
• make a spectacle of oneself
• spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch
• superspectacle

Related terms

• species
• spectacular
• speculate

Translations

Further reading

• spectacle in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• Railway semaphore signal on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

French

Etymology

From Latin spectaculum, from spectare (“to look”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sp?k.takl/
• Hyphenation: spec?ta?cle

Noun

spectacle m (plural spectacles)

1. a show, a spectacle, a performance, a concert

2. a sight, a showing, a display

Derived terms

• se donner en spectacle

Descendants

• ? Czech: spektákl
• ? Polish: spektakl

Further reading

• “spectacle” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French extravagance, from Medieval Latin extra + vagor (“to wander”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k?st?æv???ns/
• Hyphenation: ex?trav?a?gance

Noun

extravagance (countable and uncountable, plural extravagances)

1. Excessive or superfluous expenditure of money.
2. Prodigality, as of anger, love, expression, imagination, or demands.
   • A great bargain also had been the excellent Axminster carpet which covered the floor; as, again, the arm-chair in which Bunting now sat forward, staring into the dull, small fire. In fact, that arm-chair had been an extravagance of Mrs. Bunting. She had wanted her husband to be comfortable after the day's work was done, and she had paid thirty-seven shillings for the chair.

Synonyms

Antonyms

• frugality
• economize
• moderation

Related terms

Translations

French

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -??s

Noun

extravagance f (plural extravagances)

1. extravagance
   • 1837 Louis Viardot, L’Ingénieux Hidalgo Don Quichotte de la Manche^{fr.Wikisource}, translation of El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Chapter I:

     Sa curiosité et son extravagance arrivèrent à ce point qu’il vendit plusieurs arpents de bonnes terres à labourer pour acheter des livres de chevalerie à lire.

     His curiosity and his extravagance came to the point that he sold several arpents of good working land to buy books of chivalry to read.

Related terms

• extravagant
  • extravagamment

Further reading

• “extravagance” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).