Search the Dictionary

ts various aspects and relations; contemplation; intellectual examination. Thenceforth to speculations high or deep I turned my thoughts. Milton.

He is addicted to his study. Beau. & Fl. That part of mankind that addict their minds to speculations. Adventurer. His genius addicted him to the study of antiquity. Fuller. A man gross . . . and addicted to low company. Macaulay.

apparition of the Spaniards. Prescott. The apparition of Lawyer Clippurse occasioned much speculation in that portion of the world. Sir W. Scott.

thinkers, while the political doctrines of the leaders of the American Revolution and the speculations of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine represented the movement in America.

Without a bottom; hence, fathomless; baseless; as, a bottomless abyss. "Bottomless speculations." Burke.

an real; a false show; a cheat or fraud; a delusive scheme; an empty project; a dishonest speculation; as, the South Sea bubble. Then a soldier . . . Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon's mouth. Shak.

ers, to get one's self into unexpected trouble, as by interfering the concerns of others, speculation, etc. -- To burn out, to destroy or obliterate by burning. "Must you with hot irons burn out mine eyes" Shak. -- To be burned out, to suffer loss by fire, as the burning of one's house, store, or shop, with the conte…

; to study; to meditate on. I will consider thy testimonies. Ps. cxix. 95. Thenceforth to speculations high or deep I turned my thoughts, and with capacious mind Considered all things visible. Milton.

A vain fancy speculation; a reverie; a castle in the air; unfounded hope. Mrs. Lambert's little daydream was over. Thackeray.

nt to attain a desired result by a combination of interested parties; -- applied to stock speculations and political bargains. [Slang]

or superficial; intricate; mysterious; not obvious; obscure; as, a deep subject or plot. Speculations high or deep. Milton. A question deep almost as the mystery of life. De Quincey. O Lord, . . . thy thought are very deep. Ps. xcii. 5.

Of or pertaining to dilettanteism; amateur; as, dilettant speculation. Carlyle.

s far as gods and heavenly essences Can perish. Milton. He had been indulging in fanciful speculations on spiritual essences, until . . . he had and ideal world of his own around him. W. Irving.

Drawn out with too much subtilty; overnice; as, finedrawn speculations.

Undue boldness of speculation; unbelief. Berkeley. -- a.

Profitable; advantageous; lucrative. "A gainful speculation." Macaulay. -- Gain"ful*ly, adv. -- Gain"ful*ness, n.

ce; immensity; infinity. "I am who fill infinitude." Milton. As pleasing to the fancy, as speculations of eternity or infinitude are to the understanding. Addison.

tions. Sir T. Browne. A time of insecurity, when interests of all sorts become objects of speculation. Burke.

re; communicate. [Obs.] Intelligent of seasons. Milton. Which are to France the spies and speculations Intelligent of our state. Shak.

elessness; the quality of being unprofitable; unprofitableness; as, the inutility of vain speculations and visionary projects.