In general,
spectacle refers to an event that is memorable for the appearance it creates. Derived in
Middle English from c. 1340 as "specially prepared or arranged display" it was borrowed from
Old French spectacle, itself a reflection of the
Latin spectaculum "a show" from
spectare "to view, watch" frequentative form of
specere "to look at." The word
spectacle has also been a
term of art in theater dating from the 17th century in English
drama.