cogitative
Americanadjective
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meditating; contemplating.
The cogitative faculty distinguishes humans from animals.
-
given to meditation; thoughtful.
The leaders sat in cogitative silence.
adjective
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capable of thinking
-
thoughtful
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of cogitative
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin cōgitātīvus, equivalent to cōgitāt(us) ( see cogitate) + -īvus adjective suffix ( see -ive)
Vocabulary lists containing cogitative
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But differences emerged in the slower, more effortful cogitative phase that followed, leading to divergent success rates in the end: 18 percent for the mathematics students versus 6 percent for the history students.
From New York Times ● Apr. 13, 2018
His saxophone emits a broad and smoky sound, with a measured inflection that gives the music an unhurried, cogitative pacing.
From New York Times ● Apr. 6, 2017
He pushed his helmet back on his head, a cogitative move.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
"When you last wrote," repeated John, in a cogitative tone.
From Fated to Be Free by Ingelow, Jean
If matter be once without thought, it can only be made to think by some new modification; but all the modifications which it can admit are equally unconnected with cogitative powers.”
From Shorter Novels, Eighteenth Century The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia; The Castle of Otranto, a Gothic Story; Vathek, an Arabian Tale by Beckford, William
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
