Speculation

Speculation
Speculation Spec`u*la"tion, n. [L. speculatio a spying out, observation: cf. F. sp['e]culation.] 1. The act of speculating. Specifically: [1913 Webster] (a) Examination by the eye; view. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] (b) Mental view of anything in its various aspects and relations; contemplation; intellectual examination. [1913 Webster]

Thenceforth to speculations high or deep I turned my thoughts. --Milton. [1913 Webster] (c) (Philos.) The act or process of reasoning a priori from premises given or assumed. [1913 Webster] (d) (Com.) The act or practice of buying land, goods, shares, etc., in expectation of selling at a higher price, or of selling with the expectation of repurchasing at a lower price; a trading on anticipated fluctuations in price, as distinguished from trading in which the profit expected is the difference between the retail and wholesale prices, or the difference of price in different markets. [1913 Webster]

Sudden fortunes, indeed, are sometimes made in such places, by what is called the trade of speculation. --A. Smith. [1913 Webster]

Speculation, while confined within moderate limits, is the agent for equalizing supply and demand, and rendering the fluctuations of price less sudden and abrupt than they would otherwise be. --F. A. Walker. [1913 Webster] (e) Any business venture in involving unusual risks, with a chance for large profits. [1913 Webster]

2. A conclusion to which the mind comes by speculating; mere theory; view; notion; conjecture. [1913 Webster]

From him Socrates derived the principles of morality, and most part of his natural speculations. --Sir W. Temple. [1913 Webster]

To his speculations on these subjects he gave the lofty name of the ``Oracles of Reason.'' --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

3. Power of sight. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Thou hast no speculation in those eyes. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. A game at cards in which the players buy from one another trumps or whole hands, upon a chance of getting the highest trump dealt, which entitles the holder to the pool of stakes. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • SPÉCULATION — Il n’est pas aisé de situer la spéculation dans l’ensemble des activités économiques. L’idée même de spéculation provoque la méfiance: les gains des spéculateurs s’apparentent toujours quelque peu à de l’escroquerie. Ensuite, parce qu’elle… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Speculation — Spéculation La spéculation est une activité humaine consistant à imaginer, à anticiper les réactions et activités d autrui, comme si nous étions à sa place, et à porter un regard sur notre propre activité, comme si nous étions un autre. C est… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Spéculation — est le terme employé à propos des prévisions, ou plutôt des conjectures, sur les marchés financiers. On cherche, en réfléchissant, à prévoir et à anticiper les quantités et les prix futurs, les réactions et activités d autrui, en se mettant à… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Speculation — • A term used with reference to business transactions to signify the investing of money at a risk of loss on the chance of unusual gain Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Speculation     Speculation …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • speculation — Speculation. s. f. v. Action de speculer, La speculation des astres. belle, profonde, continuelle speculation. il n a rien découvert de nouveau avec toutes ses speculations. Il signifie aussi, Les observations escrites par les speculateurs. J ay… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • speculation — spec·u·la·tion /ˌspe kyə lā shən/ n: an act or instance of speculating: as a: assumption of unusual business risk in hopes of obtaining commensurate gain b: a transaction involving such speculation Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam… …   Law dictionary

  • Speculation — (v. lat.), 1) überhaupt Betrachtung, Beschauung, aber nicht die äußere, sinnliche, sondern die innere, geistige sammt der den Inhalt u. die Folgen dieser inneren Betrachtung entwickelnden u. anwendenden Thätigkeit des Denkens. Bes. 2) im… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • speculation — (n.) late 14c., contemplation, consideration, from O.Fr. speculation, from L.L. speculationem (nom. speculatio) contemplation, observation, from L. speculatus, pp. of speculari observe, from specere to look at, view (see SCOPE (Cf. scope) (1)).… …   Etymology dictionary

  • speculation — [n1] theory, guess belief, brainwork*, cerebration, cogitation, conjecture, consideration, contemplation, deliberation, excogitation, guesstimate*, guesswork, hunch, hypothesis, meditation, opinion, reflection, review, shot, shot in the dark*,… …   New thesaurus

  • Speculation — (vom latein. speculari, scharf nach etwas ausschauen, spähen, um sich blicken, erwägen), dann in der Philosophie das Streben nach und Erringen von eigentlichen Vernunfterkenntnissen d.h. von solchen, welche über die Erfahrung zu den ersten… …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

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