Speculate
['spekjʊleɪt] or ['spɛkjə'let]
Definition
(verb.) to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds; 'Scientists supposed that large dinosaurs lived in swamps'.
(verb.) talk over conjecturally, or review in an idle or casual way and with an element of doubt or without sufficient reason to reach a conclusion; 'We were speculating whether the President had to resign after the scandal'.
(verb.) invest at a risk; 'I bought this house not because I want to live in it but to sell it later at a good price, so I am speculating'.
Editor: Sheldon--From WordNet
Definition
(v. i.) To consider by turning a subject in the mind, and viewing it in its different aspects and relations; to meditate; to contemplate; to theorize; as, to speculate on questions in religion; to speculate on political events.
(v. i.) To view subjects from certain premises given or assumed, and infer conclusions respecting them a priori.
(v. i.) To purchase with the expectation of a contingent advance in value, and a consequent sale at a profit; -- often, in a somewhat depreciative sense, of unsound or hazardous transactions; as, to speculate in coffee, in sugar, or in bank stock.
(v. t.) To consider attentively; as, to speculate the nature of a thing.
Editor: Sonya
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. n. [1]. Meditate, contemplate, cogitate, reflect, ponder, muse, ruminate, think, consider.[2]. Trade (hazardously).
Editor: Vanessa
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Consider, meditate, theorize, cogitate,[See COGITATE]
Inputed by Glenda
Definition
v.i. to look at or into with the mind: to consider: to theorise: to traffic for great profit.—ns. Speculā′tion act of speculating: mental view: contemplation: theory: the buying goods &c. to sell them at an advance any more or less risky investment of money for the sake of unusually large profits; Spec′ulātist a speculative philosopher.—adj. Spec′ūlātive given to speculation or theory: ideal: pertaining to speculation in business &c.—adv. Spec′ulātively.—ns. Spec′ulātiveness the state of being speculative; Spec′ulātor one who engages in mental speculations or who practises speculation in trade or business of any kind.—adj. Spec′ūlātory exercising speculation: adapted for spying or viewing.—n. Spec′ulātrix a female speculator.
Typist: Weldon
Examples
- Private enterprise, therefore, so far from bothering about the public need of housing, did nothing but corner and speculate in rents and sub-letting. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- The historian is obliged to speculate about the contents of the head that wears a crown as best he can. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Whether or not he would cordially approve, I used to speculate. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Upon such may have beens we can speculate here, but we cannot decide. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- If we had not known of any other slave-making ant, it would have been hopeless to speculate how so wonderful an instinct could have been perfected. Charles Darwin. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
- It is interesting to speculate how prehistoric man came to use the skin of the beasts of the field for warmth and shelter. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- But in Naples I think they speculate on misfortunes of that kind. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- Whether the fairies made any mention of the five thousand pounds, and it disagreed with Baby, is not speculated upon. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- I have speculated on the chance of your feeling a passing curiosity about what he wanted to say, and of my being able to satisfy it. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- His original curiosity augmented every day, as he watched for her, saw or did not see her, and speculated about her. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- It had nature for its subject, and speculated as to how things are made and changed. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- But you ought to know best how you speculated upon it. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Aristotle speculated, and the alchemists of the middle ages busied themselves in magic and guess-work. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- Another of the Fathers says, 'Speculated without knowing that speculation is a science. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- You are speculating, I said, on a result which cannot possibly take place. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- All over Europe in the fifteenth century merchants and sailors were speculating about new ways to the East. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- And that sight kept men speculating, in spite of all the figures and scientific dicta of the ages. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- I have looked at her, speculating thousands of times upon the unborn child from whom I had been rent. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- Tarzan, an interested spectator of all that had taken place, sat speculating on the strange actions of these peculiar creatures. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- At the time, I understood that he was speculating with my own money: it was incredibly stupid of me, but I knew nothing of business. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- Now he discovered himself speculating upon the fate which would have fallen to the girl had he not rescued her from Terkoz. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
Editor: Nat