|
Speculation - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
|
Speculation : (noun)
1: a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
[syn: guess, conjecture, supposition, surmise, surmisal,
hypothesis]
2: a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or
conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence);
"speculations about the outcome of the election"; "he
dismissed it as mere conjecture" [syn: conjecture]
3: an investment that is very risky but could yield great
profits; "he knew the stock was a speculation when he
bought it" [syn: venture]
4: continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject
or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature; "the
habit of meditation is the basis for all real knowledge"
[syn: meditation]
Based on WordNet 2.0
|
|
Speculation : \Spec`u*la"tion\, n. [L. speculatio a spying out,
observation: cf. F. sp['e]culation.]
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.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
|
|
SPECULATION, contracts. The hope or desire of making a profit by the
purchase and resale of a thing. Pard. Dr. Com. n. 12. The profit so made;
as, be made a good speculation.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
|
|
|
|
|
