cogitative

[koj-i-tey-tiv]

adjective

1. meditating; contemplating.

   The cogitative faculty distinguishes humans from animals.

2. given to meditation; thoughtful.

   The leaders sat in cogitative silence.

ˈcogitative

/ ˈkɒdʒɪtətɪv /

adjective

1. capable of thinking

2. thoughtful

Other Word Forms

• cogitatively adverb
• cogitativeness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cogitative¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin cōgitātīvus, equivalent to cōgitāt(us) ( cogitate ) + -īvus adjective suffix ( -ive )

Example Sentences

I examine the cogitative processes within in the expectation of a resolution.

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He pushed his helmet back on his head, a cogitative move.

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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.

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But his solo work — at once cogitative and kinetic — has its own allure.

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His saxophone emits a broad and smoky sound, with a measured inflection that gives the music an unhurried, cogitative pacing.

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