speculate

[ spek-yuh-leyt ]
/ ˈspɛk yəˌleɪt /

verb (used without object), spec·u·lat·ed, spec·u·lat·ing.

to engage in thought or reflection; meditate (often followed by on, upon, or a clause).
to indulge in conjectural thought.
to engage in any business transaction involving considerable risk or the chance of large gains, especially to buy and sell commodities, stocks, etc., in the expectation of a quick or very large profit.

Origin of speculate

1590–1600; < Latin speculātus, past participle of speculārī to watch over, explore, reconnoiter, derivative of specula watch tower, noun derivative of specere to look, regard; see -ate1

SYNONYMS FOR speculate

1 think, reflect, cogitate.
2 conjecture, guess, surmise, suppose, theorize.

OTHER WORDS FROM speculate

o·ver·spec·u·late, verb (used without object), o·ver·spec·u·lat·ed, o·ver·spec·u·lat·ing. pre·spec·u·late, verb (used without object), pre·spec·u·lat·ed, pre·spec·u·lat·ing. un·spec·u·lat·ing, adjective

Words nearby speculate

spectrum, spectrum analyser, spectrum analysis, spectrum disorder, specular, speculate, speculation, speculative, speculative fiction, speculative philosophy, speculator

British Dictionary definitions for overspeculate

speculate
/ (ˈspɛkjʊˌleɪt) /

verb

(when tr, takes a clause as object) to conjecture without knowing the complete facts
(intr) to buy or sell securities, property, etc, in the hope of deriving capital gains
(intr) to risk loss for the possibility of considerable gain
(intr) NZ rugby to make an emergency forward kick of the ball without taking any particular aim

Word Origin for speculate

C16: from Latin speculārī to spy out, from specula a watchtower, from specere to look at