aspicere

Aspicere is a Latin verb meaning to look at, behold, or observe; it can also carry the sense of regarding or considering something. It belongs to the class of Latin verbs that end in -io, often described as the third-conjugation -io group, and is most commonly found in classical and late Latin texts.

Etymology and related forms: Aspicere derives from the root spic-, meaning to look, with a prefix pattern akin to ad-, which appears in related verbs such as adspicere (to look at), conspicere (to catch sight of), respicere (to look back or regard), and perspicere (to inspect or examine). The verb appears with the infinitive aspicere and the related stem aspic-, which governs its conjugation and compounds.

Conjugation and principal parts: Aspicere is an -io verb. Its principal parts are aspicere (infinitive), aspicio (first person singular present), aspexi (perfect), and aspectum (supine). In the present active indicative it forms aspicio, aspicis, aspicit, aspicimus, aspicitis, aspiciunt. The passive forms exist as well, but they are less common in ordinary Latin usage.

Usage and nuance: In Latin, aspicere expresses looking at something with attention, intention, or perception. It is frequently used with direct objects denoting what is seen. The verb features in a family of stationary look-related compounds, such as adspicere (to look at, contemplate), conspicere (to spot or behold), respicere (to regard or look back), and perspicere (to inspect or examine). The term also informs the English word aspectus and, indirectly, the broader semantic field of appearance and perception.

See also: Aspect, aspectus, conspicere, respicere, perspicere.