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contemplate

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The definition of contemplate is to look at something, think about something or meditate about something for a long time.

(verb)

If you sit around for a long time thinking about what will happen if you die, this is an example of when youcontemplate death.

See contemplate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb contemplated, contemplating

to look at intently; gaze at
to think about intently; study carefully
to have in mind as a possibility or plan; intend

Origin: < L contemplatus, pp. of contemplari, to gaze attentively, observe (orig., in augury, to mark out space for observation < com-, intens. + templum, temple

intransitive verb

to meditate or muse, sometimes specif. in a religious or mystical way

Related Forms:

contemplator noun

See contemplate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb con·tem·plat·ed, con·tem·plat·ing, con·tem·plates

verb, transitive

To look at attentively and thoughtfully. See Synonyms at see¹.
To consider carefully and at length; meditate on or ponder: contemplated the problem from all sides; contemplated the mystery of God.
To have in mind as an intention or possibility: contemplate marriage; forced by the accident to contemplate retirement.

verb, intransitive

To ponder; meditate.

Origin:

Origin: Latin contemplārī, contemplāt-

Origin: : com-, intensive pref.; see com-

Origin: + templum, space for observing auguries; see tem- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: