spectacles
眼鏡
解説 Definition
spectacles は「眼鏡」を意味する名詞で、主にイギリス英語やや改まった表現として使われます。日常会話では glasses の方が一般的ですが、spectacles も視力を補うための眼鏡を指す正しい語です。
A pair of lenses held in a frame and worn in front of the eyes to improve vision. The term is especially associated with British or somewhat formal usage; glasses is more usual in everyday conversation.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
spectacle の複数形で、眼鏡は左右二つのレンズを一組として扱うため通常 spectacles と複数形になる。put on one’s spectacles「眼鏡をかける」、a pair of spectacles「眼鏡一つ」と覚える。現代の日常会話では glasses が普通で、spectacles は主に英式・やや改まった語。
Link spectacles with the idea of seeing in words such as inspect and spectator. The form is plural because the object normally contains two lenses, so say these spectacles or a pair of spectacles, not a spectacle when you mean one pair of glasses. Remember it in the action put on one’s spectacles before reading. In present-day conversation, glasses is much more common, while spectacles can sound British, formal, or slightly old-fashioned. The singular spectacle usually has other meanings, such as an impressive public sight.
例文
He put on his spectacles before reading the letter.
彼は手紙を読む前に眼鏡をかけました。
Her spectacles were lying on the desk.
彼女の眼鏡は机の上に置かれていました。
These spectacles help me see small letters clearly.
この眼鏡のおかげで小さな文字がはっきり見えます。
spectacles の類義語・関連語
spectacles の語源・成り立ち Etymology
ラテン語の「見る」spectareが語源です。語根spect-（見る）に「道具」の-acleと複数形sが付き、「見るための道具」として眼鏡を指すようになりました。同じ語根のinspect（検査する）やperspective（視点）と比べれば、レンズ越しに対象を「覗く」という機能が直感的に納得できます。
Spectacles is the plural of spectacle. Spectacle came through Old French from Latin spectaculum, “a show or something to be seen,” which derives from specere or spectare, “to look at.” The spect- element also appears in spectator and inspect. The plural form became established for eyeglasses because they consist of two lenses forming one visual aid. Its everyday meaning later narrowed to the instrument worn for seeing clearly.
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