spec·u·late

[spek-yuh-leyt]
verb (used without object), spec·u·lat·ed, spec·u·lat·ing.
1.
to engage in thought or reflection; meditate (often followed by on, upon, or a clause).
2.
to indulge in conjectural thought.
3.
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:
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

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


1. think, reflect, cogitate. 2. conjecture, guess, surmise, suppose, theorize.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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00:10
Speculated is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
Collins
World English Dictionary
speculate (ˈspɛkjʊˌleɪt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb
1.  (when tr, takes a clause as object) to conjecture without knowing the complete facts
2.  (intr) to buy or sell securities, property, etc, in the hope of deriving capital gains
3.  (intr) to risk loss for the possibility of considerable gain
4.  (NZ) (intr) rugby to make an emergency forward kick of the ball without taking any particular aim
 
[C16: from Latin speculārī to spy out, from specula a watchtower, from specere to look at]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

speculate
1590s, a back formation from speculation.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
The gamers demonstrated what the researchers had speculated: that intuition can
  indeed trump scientific automation.
But scientists had speculated that gorillas had lost such skills out of lack of
  necessity, according to the study.
Throughout the ages different cultures have speculated why the seasons happen
  as they do.
Scholars have speculated that the perception of color has been evolutionary.
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