Latin word root · Sight & Light

spec-: looking, watching

spec- is a Latin root meaning “looking, watching”. Learn its variants and explore 5 connected words.

Meaning and variants

Meaning: looking, watching

Root forms: spec-, spect-, spic-

Source word: speciō — to observe, watch, look at

Word family and examples

• perspective

  a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something

• prospect

  The region which the eye overlooks at one time; a view; a scene; an outlook.

• inspect

  to look at closely to assess condition or quality

• spectator

  a person who watches an event as entertainment

• retrospect

  Consideration of past times.

Root connections help with vocabulary recall. They are not a complete etymological history, and a spelling match alone does not prove a relationship.

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