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The speculative part of a science; speculation. At the very first, with our Lord himself, and his apostles, as represented to us in the New Testament, morals come before contemplation, ethics before theoretics. H. B. Wilson.

Speculation; theory. [Obs.] Shak.

One who forms theories; one given to theory and speculation; a speculatist. Cowper. The greatest theoretists have given the preference to such a government as that which obtains in this kingdom. Addison.

The act or product of theorizing; the formation of a theory or theories; speculation.

A doctrine, or scheme of things, which terminates in speculation or contemplation, without a view to practice; hypothesis; speculation.

nding, or reaching beyond, the limits of human knowledge; -- applied to affirmations and speculations concerning what lies beyond the reach of the human intellect.

Vaguely and ambitiously extravagant in speculation, imagery, or diction.

Unreal; unsubstantial; vain; whimsical. Such vaporous speculations were inevitable. Carlyle.

of something upon an event which can not be foreseen with certainty; a hazard; a risk; a speculation. I, in this venture, double gains pursue. Dryden.

atter in continuous vortical motion. It is conveniently regarded in certain mathematical speculations as the typical form and structure of the chemical atom. -- Vortex wheel, a kind of turbine.