contemplation
[ kon-tuh m-pley-shuh n, -tem- ]
/ ˌkɒn təmˈpleɪ ʃən, -tɛm- /
noun
the act of contemplating; thoughtful observation.
full or deep consideration; reflection: religious contemplation.
purpose or intention.
prospect or expectation.
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RELATED WORDS
meditation, reflection, reverie, deliberation, study, intention, rumination, design, musing, ambition, consideration, plan, cogitation, purpose, observation, scrutiny, survey, examination, inspection, viewing
Nearby words
- contemner,
- contemnible,
- contemp.,
- contemplable,
- contemplate,
- contemplative,
- contemplative order,
- contempo,
- contemporaneous,
- contemporaneously
Origin of contemplation
1175–1225; < Latin contemplātiōn- (stem of contemplātiō); see contemplate, -ion; replacing Middle English contemplaci(o)un < Anglo-French < Latin, as above
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for contemplation
contemplation
/ (ˌkɒntɛmˈpleɪʃən, -təm-) /
noun
thoughtful or long consideration or observation
spiritual meditation esp (in Christian religious practice) concentration of the mind and soul upon GodCompare meditation
purpose or intention
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
contemplation
c.1200, "religious musing," from Old French contemplation or directly from Latin contemplationem (nominative contemplatio) "act of looking at," from contemplat-, past participle stem of contemplari "to gaze attentively, observe," originally "to mark out a space for observation" (as an augur does). From com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + templum "area for the taking of auguries" (see temple (n.1)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper