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lucubration - 4 dictionary results

lu⋅cu⋅bra⋅tion

  [loo-kyoo-brey-shuhn]
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–noun
1. laborious work, study, thought, etc., esp. at night.
2. the result of such activity, as a learned speech or dissertation.
3. Often, lucubrations. any literary effort, esp. of a pretentious or solemn nature.
Origin:
1585–95; < L lūcubrātiōn- (s. of lūcubrātiō) night-work. See lucubrate, -ion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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lu·cu·bra·tion   (lōō'kyŏŏ-brā'shən)   
n.  
  1. Laborious study or meditation.
  2. Writing produced by laborious effort or study, especially pedantic or pretentious writing. Often used in the plural.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Lucubration

Lu`cu*bra"tion\, n. [l. lucubratio;cf. F. lucubration.]

1. The act of lucubrating, or studying by candlelight; nocturnal study; meditation.

After long lucubration I have hit upon such an expedient. --Goldsmith.

2. That which is composed by night; that which is produced by meditation in retirement; hence (loosely) any literary composition.

Thy lucubrations have been perused by several of our friends. --Tatler.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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lucubration 
1595, "literary work showing signs of too-careful elaboration," from L. lucubrationem (nom. lucubratio) "nocturnal study, night work," from lucubratus, pp. of lucubrare, lit. "to work by artificial light," from stem of lucere "to shine" (see light (n.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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