speculate

/ˈspɛkjəleɪt/ (American pronunciation)

Origin

From Latin "speculatus," past participle of "speculari," meaning "to observe" or "to spy out"

Meanings

1. To form a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence
2. To invest in stocks, property, or other ventures in the hope of gain but with the risk of loss
3. To meditate on or ponder a subject

Example Sentences

1. Scientists speculate that there might be life on other planets.
2. He likes to speculate on the stock market, hoping to make quick profits.
3. The historians speculated about the true motives behind the king's actions.

Related Words

• Noun: speculation
• Adjective: speculative
• Adverb: speculatively
• Synonyms: theorize, conjecture, hypothesize, guess, surmise

Memorization Trick

Think of "SPEC-ulate" as looking through a pair of "SPECs" (spectacles) into the future, trying to see what might happen without having all the facts.