spek-

To observe. Oldest form *spek̑-, becoming *spek- in centum languages.

Derivatives include espionage, spectrum, despise, suspect, despicable, bishop, and telescope.

I. Basic form *spek-.

1.

a. espy, spy, from Old French espier, to watch;

b. espionage, from Old Italian spione, spy, from Germanic derivative *speh-ōn-, watcher. Both a and b from Germanic *spehōn.

2. Suffixed form *spek-yo-. specimen, spectacle, spectrum, speculate, speculum, spice; aspect, circumspect, conspicuous, despise, expect, frontispiece, inspect, introspect, perspective, perspicacious, prospect, respect, respite, retrospect, spiegeleisen, suspect, transpicuous, from Latin specere, to look at.

3. species, specious; especial, from Latin speciēs, a seeing, sight, form.

4. Suffixed form *spek-s, “he who sees,” in Latin compounds.

a. Latin haruspex (see gherə-);

b. Latin auspex (see awi-).

5. Suffixed form *spek-ā-. despicable, from Latin (denominative) dēspicārī, to despise, look down on (dē-, down; see de-).

6. Suffixed metathetical form *skep-yo-. skeptic, from Greek skeptesthai, to examine, consider.

II. Extended o-grade form *spoko-. scope, -scope, -scopy; bishop, episcopal, horoscope, telescope, from metathesized Greek skopos, one who watches, also object of attention, goal, and its denominative skopein (< *skop-eyo-), to see.

 

[Pokorny spek̑- 984.]

* * *