meditation
- the act of meditating.
- continued or extended thought; reflection; contemplation.
- transcendental meditation.
- devout religious contemplation or spiritual introspection.
Origin of meditation
Examples from the Web for meditation
Contemporary Examples
He turns a visit to a prefab home emporium into a meditation on wealth as a path to spiritual legitimacy.
Charles D’Ambrosio’s X-Ray Vision Is On Full Display In His New Essay Collection.Steve Almond
November 14, 2014
Meditation is all about training yourself to “course correct in thinking and movement,” says Gervais.
Another study suggests that meditation might help improve academic performance.
He recommends that beginners start off with just 10 minutes of meditation a day.
Plus, did you know that meditation can change your brain composition — just like exercise can change your body?
Historical Examples
Her eyes were downcast--looking upon the waxed floor as if in meditation.
In the ValleyHarold Frederic
She ate her dinner slowly, with meditation and a thankful heart.
Tiverton TalesAlice Brown
It was to me a soothing and a gratifying scene of meditation.
Beaux and Belles of EnglandMary Robinson
For a moment he seemed lost in meditation, and then at last spoke slowly.
Cleo The MagnificentLouis Zangwill
I would spend long hours upon my knees in prayer and meditation.
The Strolling SaintRaphael Sabatini
meditation
- the act of meditating; contemplation; reflection
- contemplation of spiritual matters, esp as a religious practice
Word Origin and History for meditation
n.
c.1200, "contemplation; devout preoccupation; devotions, prayer," from Old French meditacion "thought, reflection, study," and directly from Latin meditationem (nominative meditatio) "a thinking over, meditation," noun of action from past participle stem of meditari "to meditate, think over, reflect, consider," frequentative form from PIE root *med- "to measure, limit, consider, advise, take appropriate measures" (cf. Greek medesthai "think about," medon "ruler;" Latin modus "measure, manner," modestus "moderate," modernus "modern," mederi "to heal," medicus "physician;" Sanskrit midiur "I judge, estimate;" Welsh meddwl "mind, thinking;" Gothic miton, Old English metan "to measure;" also see medical).
Meaning "discourse on a subject" is early 14c.; meaning "act of meditating, continuous calm thought upon some subject" is from late 14c. The Latin verb also had stronger senses: "plan, devise, practice, rehearse, study."