meditation

[med-i-tey-shuh n]

See more synonyms for meditation on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of meditating.
continued or extended thought; reflection; contemplation.
transcendental meditation.

devout religious contemplation or spiritual introspection.

Origin of meditation

1175–1225; < Latin meditātiōn- (stem of meditātiō) a thinking over (see meditate, -ion); replacing Middle English meditacioun < Anglo-French < Latin, as above

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for meditation

introspection, rumination, reflection, self-examination, concentration, pondering

Examples from the Web for meditation

Contemporary Examples of meditation

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.
Meditation Tips for the Easily Distracted
DailyBurn
October 30, 2014
Another study suggests that meditation might help improve academic performance.
Meditation Tips for the Easily Distracted
DailyBurn
October 30, 2014
He recommends that beginners start off with just 10 minutes of meditation a day.
Meditation Tips for the Easily Distracted
DailyBurn
October 30, 2014
Plus, did you know that meditation can change your brain composition — just like exercise can change your body?
Meditation Tips for the Easily Distracted
DailyBurn
October 30, 2014

Historical Examples of meditation

Her eyes were downcast--looking upon the waxed floor as if in meditation.
In the Valley
Harold Frederic
She ate her dinner slowly, with meditation and a thankful heart.
Tiverton Tales
Alice Brown
It was to me a soothing and a gratifying scene of meditation.
Beaux and Belles of England
Mary Robinson
For a moment he seemed lost in meditation, and then at last spoke slowly.
Cleo The Magnificent
Louis Zangwill
She sank back to her chair, folded her hands in her lap and fell into meditation.
The Strolling Saint
Raphael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for meditation

meditation

noun

the act of meditating; contemplation; reflection
contemplation of spiritual matters, esp as a religious practice

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

Word Origin and History for meditation

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."