Speculate

Speculate
Speculate Spec"u*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Speculated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Speculating}.] [L. speculatus, p. p. of speculari to spy out, observe, fr. specula a lookout, fr. specere to look. See {Spy}.] 1. 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. [1913 Webster]

It is remarkable that persons who speculate the most boldly often conform with the most pefect quietude to the external regulations of society. --Hawthorne. [1913 Webster]

2. (Philos.) To view subjects from certain premises given or assumed, and infer conclusions respecting them a priori. [1913 Webster]

3. (Com.) 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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Synonyms:
, , , , , , , , , / (hazardously)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • speculate — spec‧u‧late [ˈspekjleɪt] verb 1. [intransitive] FINANCE to buy goods, shares, property etc in the hope that their value will increase so that you can sell them at a higher price and make a profit, often quickly: speculate in • Investors may… …   Financial and business terms

  • speculate — spec·u·late / spe kyə ˌlāt/ vb lat·ed, lat·ing vi 1: to theorize on the basis of insufficient evidence ◇ A jury is not permitted to speculate on a matter about which insufficient evidence has been presented in reaching its verdict. 2: to assume a …   Law dictionary

  • Speculate — Spec u*late, v. t. To consider attentively; as, to speculate the nature of a thing. [R.] Sir W. Hamilton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • speculate — [v1] think about deeply and theorize beat one’s brains*, brainstorm*, build castles in air*, call it, call the turn, cerebrate, chew over*, cogitate, conjecture, consider, contemplate, deliberate, dope*, dope out*, excogitate, figure, figure out* …   New thesaurus

  • speculate — (v.) 1590s, back formation from SPECULATION (Cf. speculation). Related: Speculated; speculating …   Etymology dictionary

  • speculate — reason, reflect, *think, cogitate, deliberate Analogous words: *ponder, meditate, muse, ruminate: *consider, weigh, study, contemplate, excogitate …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • speculate — ► VERB 1) form a theory or conjecture without firm evidence. 2) invest in stocks, property, or other ventures in the hope of financial gain but with the risk of loss. DERIVATIVES speculation noun speculator noun. ORIGIN Latin speculari observe ,… …   English terms dictionary

  • speculate — [spek′yə lāt΄] vi. speculated, speculating [< L speculatus, pp. of speculari, to view < specula, watchtower < specere, to see: see SPY] 1. to think about the various aspects of a given subject; meditate; ponder; esp., to conjecture 2. to …   English World dictionary

  • speculate — v. 1) (D; intr.) ( to meditate, think ) to speculate about, on (to speculate about what might have been) 2) (D; intr.) ( to conduct business by taking risks ) to speculate in; on (to speculate in oil shares; to speculate in gold; to speculate on… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • speculate — verb ADVERB ▪ openly, publicly ▪ Commentators are openly speculating on whether the accusation is false. ▪ widely ▪ wildly ▪ The British press speculated …   Collocations dictionary

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