speculatorn.
/ˈspɛkjʊleɪtə/ 1.
a. One who speculates on abstruse or uncertain matters; one who devotes himself to speculation or theoretical reasoning.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > speculation > [noun] > one who speculates
speculator1555
theoric1594
speculatist1613
speculativea1638
notionalista1677
speculist1707
1555 R. Eden tr. V. Biringucci Pyrotechnia in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 340 The philosophers, speculatours of naturall thynges, saye that it is engendered of substaunce more watery then fyerie.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica iii. xiii. 137 The Writers of Mineralls and naturall speculators, are of another beliefe. View more context for this quotation
1664 H. Power Exper. Philos. Concl. 193 The old Dogmatists and Notional Speculators, that onely gaz'd at the visible effects and..Resultances of things.
1803 T. R. Malthus Ess. Princ. Population (new ed.) i. i. 7 The most enthusiastic speculator cannot suppose a greater increase.
1855 F. A. Paley Æschylus (1861) Pref. p. xii Pythagoras, one of the most deep-minded speculators of the ancient world, speaks in every page of Aeschylus.
1871 C. Davies Metric Syst. iii. 285 Some philosophical speculators have started doubts whether the metre is really the forty millionth part of the circumference of the earth.
b. Used as the title of periodicals.
ΚΠ
1790 N. Drake & E. Ash (title) The speculator.
1801 (title) The speculator, containing essays on men and things.
2. A watchman, sentry, or look-out.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > one who sees > [noun] > watcher or look-out
showerOE
tootera1382
waiter1382
night watcha1400
scout-watcha1400
looker-out1562
night-watcher1569
watcher1572
scout1585
bishop1592
speculator1607
lookout1662
speculatory1775
lookout man1787
stagger1859
dog1870
eye1874
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 522 It is reported by a certaine Greeke writer, that if their speculator doe not giue them the watch-worde,..they teare him in pieces with their teeth.
1660 R. Burney Κέρδιστον Δῶρον 104 I am the speculator and sentinel that chase away all evil with my eyes.
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. i. 55 We..Like Speculators, should foresee, From Pharos..Portended Mischiefs [etc.].
1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey III. xii. Observ. 215 All the boats had one speculator in common, to give notice when the fish approach'd.
1820 T. S. Hughes Trav. Sicily I. iv. 139 The speculator or man who descries the movements of the fish.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > [noun] > study of > one who studies
speculator1650
1650 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica (ed. 2) vi. xiv. 288 The Hebrew letters in the heavens, made out of the greater and lesser Starres, which put together do make up words, wherein Cabalistical Speculators conceive they reade the events of future things.
1652 J. Gaule Πυς-μαντια 9 Diviners, Speculators, Circulators, Prognosticators,..&c.
1691 A. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses I. 244 Dee..appointed his Friend Kelley to be his Seer or Skryer or Speculator, that is to take notice what the Spirits did.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > one who sees > [noun] > beholder or spectator
showerOE
beholderc1374
lookera1382
espiouressc1430
considererc1449
overseerc1450
regarder1525
surveyor1558
viewer1565
spectatora1586
regardant1590
aspector1603
supervisor1610
eyer1611
spectatrix1611
spectatress1632
speculator1647
contemplator1658
attender1665
espier1860
1647 N. Nye Art of Gunnery ii. 95 As they wriggle to and fro, they will pull one another after them, to the speculatour a great deal of content.
5. A messenger sent to consult an oracle. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > message > [noun] > messenger > messenger sent to consult oracle
theor1579
speculator1794
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > divination through oracles > [noun] > medium or mouthpiece of the deity, oracle > one who consults an oracle > messenger sent as
speculator1794
1794 T. Taylor tr. Pausanias Descr. Greece III. 149 They sent speculators (theoroi) to Delphos.
6. One who engages in commercial or financial speculation.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > [noun] > trading venture or speculation > one who
speculator1778
speculatist1812
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > types of money-dealing > [noun] > speculation > speculator
adventurer1466
venturer1530
underwriter1616
entrepreneur1762
speculator1778
speculatist1812
operator1828
entrepreneuse1836
boomster1879
boomer1883
1778 A. Hamilton Let. 8 Nov. in Papers (1961) I. 577 The speculators in the city have been bidding against the commissaries.
1786 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) I. 578 There are even speculators in America who will purchase it.
1826 W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1827) II. 1476 He was a keen..speculator, well versed in the mystery of the bulls and bears.
1846 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) vi. 46 One or two bold speculators had projected streets.
1884 Fortn. Rev. Mar. 346 There are a class of speculators in the fag ends of leases.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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