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
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, adjectiveWords nearby speculate
Example sentences from the Web for speculate
British Dictionary definitions for speculate
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