Added 9 October 2026
speculate
/ˈspɛk.jʊˌleɪt/ verb
Latin root: speculātus Wiktionary
verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about speculate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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To believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds.
Scientists supposed that large dinosaurs lived in swamps
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Talk over conjecturally, or review in an idle or casual way and with an element of doubt or without sufficient reason to reach a conclusion.
We were speculating whether the President had to resign after the scandal
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Reflect deeply on a subject.
I mulled over the events of the afternoon
Origin
Borrowed from Latin speculātus, perfect active participle of speculor (“to watch, observe, examine, spy”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from specula (“a watchtower”), ultimately from speciō (“to look at”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)