spectātor, ōris, m. [specto], a looker-on, beholder, observer, spectator (class.).
- I. In gen.: sunt homines quasi spectatores superarum rerum atque caelestium, Cic. N. D. 2, 56, 140: unicus caeli siderumque (Ar chimedes), Liv. 24, 34, 2: testis et spectator, Cic. de Or. 1, 24, 112: spectator laudum tuarum, id. Fam. 2, 7, 2: Leuctricae calamitatis, id. Off. 2, 7, 26: certaminis, Liv. 1, 28; Quint. 10, 5, 19; Mart. 10, 51, 9.
- II. In partic.
- A. A spectator in a theatre, at games, etc.: nunc, spectatores, clare plaudite, Plaut. Am. 5, 3, 3; so id. ib. prol. 66; id. Cas. grex 1; id. Cist. 4, 2, 9; id. Ps. 2, 4, 30; id. Stich. 5, 3, 1; Cic. Har. Resp. 11, 22.
- B. An examiner, judge, critic: spectator probator, ut pecuniae spectatores dicuntur, Don. Ter. Eun. 3, 5, 18 (cf. specto, I. B. 3., and spectatio, I. B.): elegans formarum spectator, critic, connoisseur, Ter. Eun. 3, 5, 18: proprii ponderis, Claud. Laud. Stil. 1, 147: acrior virtutis, Liv. 42, 34, 7.