speculativeadj.n.
/ˈspɛkjʊlətɪv/ A. adj.† 5. Pertaining to vision; optical. Obsolete.
1. Of the nature of, based upon, characterized by, speculation or theory in contrast to practical or positive knowledge:
a. Of knowledge.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > speculation > [adjective] > of knowledge
speculativec1380
notional1597
c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 241 Þis cunnyng was not speculatif.
1555 R. Eden Of Pole Antartike in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 245 They..confessed that the ordinarie pilottes and mariners ignorant in Cosmographi, are not to bee compared to men of speculatiue knowleage.
1585 J. Blagrave (title) The Mathematical Iewel,..compiled and published for the Furtherance..of Gentlemen and others desirous of Speculatiue Knowledge.
1612 J. Brinsley Ludus Lit. xxi. 252 Other speculatiue or more curious knowledge in Quiddities.
a1674 Earl of Clarendon Brief View Leviathan (1676) 117 From his speculative knowledge of man-kind.
1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. i. v. 96 A practical Sense of things, very different from a mere speculative Knowledge.
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa V. iii. 52 She has a world of knowlege; knowlege speculative, as I may say; but no experience!
1850 C. G. B. Daubeny Introd. Atomic Theory (ed. 2) i. 4 One more proof of the benefits arising from experimental science, and of the unexpected advances in speculative knowledge.
1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. v. 33 His knowledge of its affairs was mostly speculative and all wrong.
b. Of special sciences, or parts of these.
ΚΠ
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 15 Alle þese þingis..ben but techinge of medicyns [v.r. medycine] speculatijf.
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. Pref. An arte of brawlyng whiche these men call Speculatiue Diuinitie.
1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke Annot. sig. ¶ As for the diuision, Musicke is either speculatiue or practicall.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 344 Chrysippus..altered the Theoricke and speculatiue Physicke of Hippocrates and Prodicus, with all their principles.
1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. v. i. sig. Ii6v Speculative Notions in Theology.
1718 J. Chamberlayne tr. B. Nieuwentyt Relig. Philosopher I. Pref. p. xx The Elements of Euclid, Algebra, and other Speculative Parts of the Mathematicks.
1741 I. Watts Improvem. Mind i. xiv. 208 Endeavour to apply every speculative Study, as far as possible, to some practical Use.
a1856 W. Hamilton Lect. Metaphysics (1859) I. vii. 111 Theoretical, called likewise speculative,..philosophy has for its highest end mere truth or knowledge.
1881 J. A. Froude Short Stud. (1883) IV. ii. i. 168 The speculative part of it [religion] was accepted because it was assumed to be true.
c. In general use.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > speculation > [adjective]
speculablec1449
speculativea1483
sophical1601
theoretic1656
thinkative1662
sophic1900
a1483 Liber Niger in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (1790) 50 Men of worshipp, endowed with vertues, morall and speculatiff.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection Pref. sig. av As wele in maters speculatyue as practyue.
1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια 26 Many of these nice and fine points..serue rather for a speculatiue pleasure & admiration, then be of any vse in the art of physick or Chirurgery.
1677 A. Yarranton England's Improvem. Addr. Ld. Windsor They have given the World sufficient Tests of the vast difference betwixt Speculative Notions and Practical Experiments.
1709 J. Swift Let. conc. Sacramental Test 12 The bare Opinion of his being Vicar of Christ is but a Speculative Point.
1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. III. xlvi. 24 The king's despotism was more speculative than practical.
1812 H. Davy Elements Chem. Philos. 17 The speculative ideas of the Arabians were more or less adopted by their European disciples.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. ii. 247 He..had a languid speculative liking for republican institutions.
1880 J. McCarthy Hist. our Own Times III. xlv. 350 Even against speculative dangers a wise people will always take precautions.
2. absolute.1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth I. 108 The various opinions that have employed the speculative upon this subject.† c. Given to pry or search into something. Obsolete.
a. Of persons: Given to speculation; inclined to theorize or indulge in conjectural reasoning.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > speculation > [adjective] > given to speculation
speculative1543
theorical1594
speculousc1604
1543 G. Joye George Ioye confuteth Winchesters Articles f. ix Euery speculatiue pharisay and idle hypocrite.
1555 R. Eden tr. G. F. de Oviedo y Valdés Summarie Gen. Hist. W. Indies in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 185 If there bee any dyfference.., it canne not bee perceaued but by the iudgement of speculatiue men.
1609 J. Dowland tr. A. Ornithoparchus Micrologus 5 A Speculative Musitian excels the Practick.
1660 R. Boyle New Exper. Physico-mechanicall (1682) 123 To dwell upon all the several Reflexions, that a Speculative Wit might make.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 305. ¶8 Six Professors, who, it seems, are to be Speculative Statesmen.
1785 T. Reid Ess. Intellect. Powers i. viii. 245 Why have speculative men laboured so anxiously to analyse our solitary operations?
1813 H. Davy Elements Agric. Chem. vii. 296 He is too speculative a writer to awaken confidence in his results.
1841 A. Helps On Pract. Wisdom in Ess. (1842) 4 Many persons are considered speculative merely because they are of a searching nature.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. xix. 327 The only statesman, indeed, active or speculative, who did not share in the general delusion was Edmund Burke.
b. Similarly of the soul, mind, etc.
ΚΠ
1570 J. Dee in H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. Math. Præf. sig. *j Ascend, and mount vp (with Speculatiue winges) in spirit.
1599 T. Nashe Lenten Stuffe 69 The grossest kind of fire that..illumines my speculatiue soule.
1793 T. Beddoes Observ. Nature Demonstrative Evid. 10 They seem to promise, to speculative minds, a sort of independance upon external things.
1809–10 S. T. Coleridge Friend (1818) III. 81 A certain number of speculative minds is necessary to a cultivated state of society.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > [adjective] > unduly
curiousa1340
inquisitive1529
prying1552
peering1568
speculative1605
emissitious1620
peeking1680
mousing1692
peery1699
long-nebbed1706
inquisitorial1796
nosy1827
nebby1860
inscrutive1882
rootin' tootin'1882
snoopy1895
stickybeak1917
nibby1942
pirooting1958
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning i. sig. D4v To be speculatiue into another man, to the end to know how to worke him,..proceedeth from a heart that is double. View more context for this quotation
1612 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) x. 66 Councellors should not be too speculatiue into their Soueraignes person.
3. Of life, etc.: Spent in, devoted to, speculation.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > thought > continued thinking, reflection, contemplation > [adjective]
thoughtfulc1175
contemplative1340
considerativec1449
musing1449
studient1532
pondering1566
contemplatory1576
speculative1578
considerate1581
reflective1581
theorical1594
theoric?1600
theoretical1608
meditative1611
thoughtsome1627
reflexive1630
reflecting1632
revolutive1637
cogitativea1639
thoughtive1654
lucubratory1656
thinkful1668
theoretic1701
ruminatinga1704
reflectious1715
ruminative1774
thinking1799
meditative1831
ruminant1849
meditational1864
penseful1865
the mind > mental capacity > belief > speculation > [adjective] > engaged in
sophisticc1550
speculative1578
speculating1787
1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 58 A trifolde kinde of lyfe, Actiue..Speculatiue, which is in continuall meditation and studye.
1643 J. Milton Doctr. Divorce 41 Christ himself hath taught us..even for a bodily healing to dispence with that holy & speculative rest of Sabbath.
1670 Earl of Clarendon Ess. in Tracts (1727) 167 An active and practical condition of life, or a speculative repose.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 54 There was..no walk of speculative or of active life, in which Jesuits were not to be found.
4. Of faculties, etc.: Adapted for, exercised in, speculation (†or vision).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > [adjective] > adapted for sight
speculativea1616
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) i. iii. 270 When light-wingd toyes, And feather'd Cupid foyles with wanton dulnesse, My speculatiue and actiue instruments.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) v. iv. 19 Thoughts speculatiue, their vnsure hopes relate. View more context for this quotation
1678 R. Cudworth tr. Aristotle in True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. iv. 408 That Perfect Happiness is a Speculative or Contemplative Energy, may be made manifest from hence.
a1732 F. Atterbury Serm. Several Occas. (1734) II. 126 The other being a mere speculative Power, hath no Contrary in the Mind of Man to struggle with.
1860 J. S. Mill Consider. Represent. Govt. (1865) 6/2 If any one requires to be convinced that speculative thought is one of the chief elements of social power.
1896 Duke of Argyll Philos. Belief 11 Our speculative faculties are altogether untrustworthy on such subjects.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > [adjective]
perspective?a1475
optical1570
optic1600
visual1603
specular1656
speculative1656
visional1790
visionary1814
ocular1831
1656 T. Blount Glossographia at Catopticks Professors of the Opticks, or art speculative.
6. Suitable for observation or watching; speculatory. Chiefly poetic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > place where view obtained > [adjective]
prospective1584
specular1671
speculative1709
gazy1745
speculatory1781
scenic1784
sightly1828
panoramic1855
rear view1911
1709 A. Pope Corr. 29 Aug. (1956) I. 70 I have been inform'd that you have left your Speculative Angle in the Widows Coffeehouse.
1782 W. Cowper Jackdaw 13 Fond of the speculative height, Thither he wings his airy flight.
1785 W. Cowper Task i. 289 Now roves the eye; And, posted on this speculative height, Exults in its command.
1821 W. Wordsworth Eclipse Sun 1 High on her speculative tower Stood Science.
7.
a. Of persons: Given to, or engaging in, commercial or financial speculation. speculative builder, a builder who has houses erected without securing buyers in advance. Hence speculative-built adj. Cf. spec adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > [adjective] > trading > speculation > of speculator
speculative1763
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > types of money-dealing > [adjective] > involving speculation > speculating
enterprising1728
speculative1763
speculating1787
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > builder > [noun] > builder of houses > speculative
developer1863
speculative builder1868
field ranger1876
private developer1911
land developer1961
society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > [adjective] > without guarantee of sale
spec1958
speculative-built1960
1763 S. T. Janssen Smuggling 28 Several Persons, who go under the Denomination of Speculative Buyers, purchase Teas there, meerly on an Expectation of the Price rising afterwards.
1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. i. x. 140 The speculative merchant exercises no one regular..business. View more context for this quotation
1799 Hull Advertiser 6 Oct. 3/3 To keep down the price of corn which speculative men were trying to advance.
1813 W. Scott Let. Sept.–Oct. (1932) III. 360 Any rare printed book, which a speculative bookseller might purchase with a view to republication.
1868 1st Rep. Comm. Employment Children, Young Persons, & Women in Agric. 35 in Parl. Papers 1867–8 XVII. 95 Cottages..have been put up by speculative builders of the flimsiest materials.
1902 G. K. Chesterton Twelve Types 13 The colossal diagram of streets and houses is..the opium dream of a speculative builder.
1933 Archit. Rev. 74 120 There is a possibility, of course, that the speculative builder who has bought this estate is an intelligent man.
1960 Pidgeon & Crosby Anthology of Houses 94 2-storey, speculative-built terrace houses.
1973 Listener 25 Jan. 118/1 The idiocies and crudities permitted to the developer—or, as I prefer to call him, the speculative builder.
b. Of the nature of, characterized by, or involving speculation.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > [adjective] > trading > speculation
speculating1787
speculative1799
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > types of money-dealing > [adjective] > involving speculation
speculative1799
entrepreneurial1890
1799 Hull Advertiser 6 Oct. 3/3 Articles which ought..to be exempt from all speculative interest.
1848 J. S. Mill Princ. Polit. Econ. II. iii. xxiv. §2 193 There are two states of the markets: one which may be termed the quiescent state, the other the expectant, or speculative state.
1879 H. George Progress & Poverty (1881) viii. iii. 371 How speculative rent checks production.
1907 Standard 19 Jan. 2/4 Heavy speculative transactions have been in progress in tin for weeks past.
c. Forming an object of speculation.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > merchandise > [adjective] > types of goods > object of speculation
speculative1890
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > types of money-dealing > [adjective] > involving speculation > forming object of speculation
speculative1890
1890 Daily News 30 Sept. 2/5 The market for speculative beetroot continues dull and prices to decline.
B. n.† 1. As a book-title, = mirror n. 3. Obsolete.† 3. A speculator or speculatist. Obsolete. rare.
ΚΠ
c1430 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (Percy Soc.) 63 Vincencius in his speculatif historialle, Of this saide monk makithe ful mencyoune.
2. † a. Speculation; hypothetical reasoning; theory. Obsolete.After late Latin speculātīva n. So French spéculative.† b. plural. Speculative matters; the speculative sciences. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > speculation > [noun]
speculative1412
speculationa1450
theory1668
project1727
ideology1813
ideologizing1861
1412–20 J. Lydgate tr. Hist. Troy i. 3578 For-dullid is myn ymagynatif, To deme in practik or in speculatif.
1426 J. Lydgate tr. G. de Guileville Pilgrimage Life Man 18575 For speculatyff..With-outen good experience Avaylith lytle or ellis nought.
1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) iii. v. 119 The maistres of rethorique ben the chyef maistres in speculatyf.
a1500 in M. Cooke Hist. Masonry (1861) 90 Of specculatyfe he was a master and he lovyd well masonry and masons.
1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. cix Suche that haue practyse and nought of speculatyfe.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > speculation > [noun] > speculative matters
speculatives1640
views1697
1640 O. Sedgwick Christs Counsell 258 In speculatives be wise to sobriety, in practicals be as good as thou canst.
a1670 G. Rust Disc. Truth (1682) 166 As indispensible are the mutual respects and relations of things both in Speculatives and Morals.
1678 R. Cudworth True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. iv. 416 Aristotle..concludes, that as the Speculative Sciences in General, are more Noble and Excellent than the other, so is Theology or Metaphysicks the most Honourable of all the Speculatives.
c. With the: That which rests only on speculation.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > speculation > [noun] > that which rests on speculation
opinionative1660
matter (also object, subject, etc.) of speculation1665
speculative1877
1877 W. Sparrow Serm. xix. 254 When..we are compelled..to make a choice between the speculative and the practical we should give preference to the latter.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > speculation > [noun] > one who speculates
speculator1555
theoric1594
speculatist1613
speculativea1638
notionalista1677
speculist1707
a1638 J. Mede Wks. (1672) 878 If it were in Latine, it would make some of your German Speculatives half wild.
Compounds
Special collocations.
speculative faith merely intellectual assent to religious truth.
ΚΠ
1699 W. Bates Spiritual Perfection vii. 172 They are satisfied with a speculative Faith, that costs nothing, and will go with them to Hell, for the Devils believe supernatural Truths.
1771 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) V. 213 It is not a barely notional or speculative faith.
2000 J. P. Dougherty Western Creed, Western Identity iv. 51 Changing moral faith into speculative faith and dogma.
speculative fiction n. see quot. 1953.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > prose > narrative or story > science fiction, etc. > [noun] > speculative fiction
future history1871
speculative fiction1953
1953 R. A. Heinlein in Library Jrnl. July 1188/1 The term ‘speculative fiction’ may be defined negatively as being fiction about things that have not happened.
1978 N.Y. Times 30 Mar. c22/3 A 10-part series based on what Mr. Kotlowitz called ‘speculative fiction’, stories that go beyond sci-fi and deal with ‘ethical and moral demands’ made in new worlds to come.
speculative grammar n. a late medieval scholastic grammatical system in which the structure of language is interpreted through scholastic philosophy in terms of our perception and representation of the world by the ‘modes of signification’ (modi significandi) (cf. modistae n.); any one of the grammatical theories arising from this analysis.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > scholasticism > [noun] > grammar
speculative grammar1951
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > schools or theories of grammar > [noun] > other spec.
universal grammar1751
recognition grammar1926
tagmemics1947
structural grammar1949
speculative grammar1951
generative grammar1959
generativism1965
standard theory1966
systemic grammar1967
case grammar1968
Montague grammar1972
1951 R. H. Robins Anc. & Mediaeval Gram. Theory iii. 80 Most of these philosophical or ‘speculative’ grammars were entitled De Modis Significandi (whence the name ‘Modistae’), or, as we might put it to-day, ‘On Semantics’; they covered a great deal more ground than would now be included in ‘grammar’ narrowly considered.
1968 J. Lyons Introd. Theoret. Linguistics i. 15 It was the task of scientific, or ‘speculative’, grammar to discover the principles whereby the word, as a ‘sign’, was related on the one hand to the human intellect and on the other to the thing it represented, or ‘signified’.
1972 R. R. K. Hartmann & F. C. Stork Dict. Lang. & Linguistics 139/1 New in these universal speculative grammars [were]..the refinements in syntactic analysis, e.g. the function of prepositions, the formal criteria of grammatical acceptability, and the concepts of dependency, government and transitivity.
1975 Canad. Jrnl. Linguistics 20 134 Speculative grammar attempted to show how the ‘modes of existence’ of objects were apprehended by the ‘modes of understanding’ of the human intellect.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
adj.n.c1380