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spectator definition

spec·ta·tor (spek′tāt′ər, spek tāt′-)

noun

  1. a person who sees or watches something without taking an active part; onlooker
  2. a woman's shoe having two contrasting colors and with the toe and heel characteristically ornamented with perforations

Etymology: L < pp. of spectare, to behold: see spectacle

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

spectator Synonyms

spectator

n.

beholder, viewer, onlooker, witness; see observer 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

spectator Usage Examples

Possessives

  • hand: A key chain with a light is held over a spectator's hand.

Converse of object

  • astonish: The skeletons made their way through the astonished spectators, eventually melting into the crowd, still shouting slogans against a long-dead president.

Adjective modifier

  • mere: They don't want to be mere spectators, or passers by.

Modifies a noun

  • seating: Swimming & Swim School Swimming Stoke Mandeville Stadium offers a fully accessible 25m, 6 lane swimming pool with spectator seating for 150.
spectator usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

spectator quotes

Thus I live in the world rather as a Spectator of mankind, than as one of the species, by which means I have made myself a speculative statesman, soldier, merchant, and artisan, without ever meddling with any practical part of life.

-Addison,Joseph

La eternidad rotativa puede parecer atroz al espectador; es satisfactoria para sus individuos. Libres de malas noticias y de enfermedades, viven siempre como si fuera la primera vez, sin recordar las anteriores. A circular eternity may seem atrocious to the spectator, but it is satisfactory to individuals inside. Free from bad news and disease, theyalways live as if it were the first time, and do not remember previous times.

-Bioy Casares, Adolfo

Soit donc que vous composiez, soit donc que vous jouiez, ne pensez non plus au spectateur que s'il n'existait pas. Imaginez sur le bord du the¤  a"  tre, un grand mur qui vous se¤  pare du parterre; jouez comme si la toile ne se levait pas. Whether you compose or act, think no more of the spectator than if he did not exist. Imagine at the edge of the stage a large wall which separates you from the orchestra; act as if the curtain never rose.

-Diderot, Denis

spectator quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"spectator." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/spectator>

APA Style

spectator. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/spectator

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