Spec`u*la"tion (?), n. [L.
speculatio a spying out, observation: cf. F.
spéculation.] 1. The act of
speculating. Specifically: --
(a) Examination by the eye; view.
[Obs.]
(b) Mental view of anything in its various
aspects and relations; contemplation; intellectual
examination.
Thenceforth to speculations high or deep
I turned my thoughts.
Milton.
(c) (Philos.) The act or process of
reasoning a priori from premises given or assumed.
(d) (Com.) The act or practice of
buying land, goods, shares, etc., in expectation of selling at a
higher price, or of selling with the expectation of repurchasing at a
lower price; a trading on anticipated fluctuations in price, as
distinguished from trading in which the profit expected is the
difference between the retail and wholesale prices, or the difference
of price in different markets.
Sudden fortunes, indeed, are sometimes made in such
places, by what is called the trade of
speculation.
A. Smith.
Speculation, while confined within moderate
limits, is the agent for equalizing supply and demand, and rendering
the fluctuations of price less sudden and abrupt than they would
otherwise be.
F. A. Walker.
(e) Any business venture in involving unusual
risks, with a chance for large profits.
2. A conclusion to which the mind comes by
speculating; mere theory; view; notion; conjecture.
From him Socrates derived the principles of morality,
and most part of his natural speculations.
Sir
W. temple.
To his speculations on these subjects he gave
the lofty name of the "Oracles of Reason."
Macaulay.
3. Power of sight. [Obs.]
Thou hast no speculation in those
eyes.
Shak.
4. A game at cards in which the players buy
from one another trumps or whole hands, upon a chance of getting the
highest trump dealt, which entitles the holder to the pool of
stakes.
Spec`u*la"tion (?), n. [L.
speculatio a spying out, observation: cf. F.
spéculation.] 1. The act of
speculating. Specifically: --
(a) Examination by the eye; view.
[Obs.]
(b) Mental view of anything in its various
aspects and relations; contemplation; intellectual
examination.
Thenceforth to speculations high or deep
I turned my thoughts.
Milton.
(c) (Philos.) The act or process of
reasoning a priori from premises given or assumed.
(d) (Com.) The act or practice of
buying land, goods, shares, etc., in expectation of selling at a
higher price, or of selling with the expectation of repurchasing at a
lower price; a trading on anticipated fluctuations in price, as
distinguished from trading in which the profit expected is the
difference between the retail and wholesale prices, or the difference
of price in different markets.
Sudden fortunes, indeed, are sometimes made in such
places, by what is called the trade of
speculation.
A. Smith.
Speculation, while confined within moderate
limits, is the agent for equalizing supply and demand, and rendering
the fluctuations of price less sudden and abrupt than they would
otherwise be.
F. A. Walker.
(e) Any business venture in involving unusual
risks, with a chance for large profits.
2. A conclusion to which the mind comes by
speculating; mere theory; view; notion; conjecture.
From him Socrates derived the principles of morality,
and most part of his natural speculations.
Sir
W. temple.
To his speculations on these subjects he gave
the lofty name of the "Oracles of Reason."
Macaulay.
3. Power of sight. [Obs.]
Thou hast no speculation in those
eyes.
Shak.
4. A game at cards in which the players buy
from one another trumps or whole hands, upon a chance of getting the
highest trump dealt, which entitles the holder to the pool of
stakes.
