lucubration

American  

[loo-kyoo-brey-shuhn] / ˌlu kjʊˈbreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. laborious work, study, thought, etc., especially at night.

2. the result of such activity, as a learned speech or dissertation.

3. Often lucubrations. any literary effort, especially of a pretentious or solemn nature.

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lucubration British  

/ ˌluːkjʊˈbreɪʃən /

noun

1. laborious study, esp at night

2. (often plural) a solemn literary work

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Etymology

Origin of lucubration

1585–95; < Latin lūcubrātiōn- (stem of lūcubrātiō ) night-work. See lucubrate, -ion

Example Sentences

He spoke some French, perhaps also Italian; and if he had been at a University, which did not frequently happen, he might be able to recite a Latin lucubration.

From Pictures of German Life in the XVIIIth and XIXth Centuries, Vol. I. by Freytag, Gustav

Mr Hobhouse, in his Illustrations of Childe Harold626, says, that the whole lucubration, extending to nearly 300 pages of large octavo, is a grave and continued irony on the verbal criticisms of commentators.

From History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Volume II by Dunlop, John

Some may see our lucubration as we saw it; and others may see nothing but a drunken dream, or the nightmare of a distempered imagination. 

From The Note-Books of Samuel Butler by Butler, Samuel

Swift chronologically precedes Sterne, for in 1726, shortly after "Robinson Crusoe" and a good fifteen years before "Pamela," he gave the world that unique lucubration, "Gulliver's Travels," allegory, satire and fairy story all in one.

From Masters of the English Novel A Study of Principles and Personalities by Burton, Richard

As a supporter of the last reign, he was dreading the vengeance of the people so far as concerned his estates in Champagne when Frederick's lucubration fell into his hands.

From Sentimental Education, Volume II The History of a Young Man by Flaubert, Gustave