contemplative

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English contemplatif,^[2][3][4] borrowed from Anglo-Norman contemplatif,^[5][4] also found in Old and Middle French,^[6][5][7][8] and directly borrowed from Latin contemplātīvus (“theoretical, speculative”).^[5][6][8] Etymonline says that the Latin adjective was formed after Ancient Greek θεωρητικός (theōrētikós).^[6] It comes from the past-participle stem of contemplor (“to gaze attentively, observe; consider”),^[6][5] the verb behind contemplate, which is formed from com- and templum (“area for the taking of auguries”).^[6] The modern spelling follows the Latin and replaced the earlier one.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Given to contemplation, meditative: in 1340, in the Ayenbite.^[5][3] Etymonline dates the word to the mid 14th century, with the meaning "devoted to sacred contemplation, devout",^[6] and the Shorter Oxford also puts the religious sense first.^[8]

Semantic evolution

Classical Latin meant "theoretical", but in post-classical Latin the adjective described the mystical religious life from Isidore on, before 636,^[5] and the noun meant a person devoted to the contemplation of God from the 6th century, later a member of such an order.^[5] English took over the religious use: a way of life turned inward rather than toward action (before 1382, in the Wycliffite Bible),^[5] especially in contemplative life, after Latin vita contemplativa,^[8] with the noun from before 1425.^[5] The wider sense of continued, absorbed reflection became general, from the late 15th century in Etymonline's dating.^[6] The Latin sense "theoretical" returned in 1563 and died out by 1866.^[5] Johnson (1755) defines the word as "given to thought or study" and as "dedicated to study", the latter illustrated with Bacon's "my life hath rather been contemplative than active".^[9] In the 19th century new uses with of appeared: looking at someone (1814) and providing for a future event (1816).^[5]

Timeline

• 1340 – given to contemplation, meditative.^[5]
• before 1382 – of a way of life, turned inward to religious contemplation, in the Wycliffite Bible.^[5]
• before 1425 – involving or conducive to contemplation, in The Cloud of Unknowing.^[5]
• before 1425 – noun, a person devoted to religious contemplation.^[5]
• 1563 – of learning, based on theory (to 1866).^[5]
• 1814 – with of, looking at a person or thing.^[5]
• 1816 – with of, providing for a future event.^[5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Given to quiet, thoughtful reflection; meditative: He grew contemplative as the train pulled out.^[10][7][5]
2. Devoted to religious meditation and prayer rather than to active work, as in the contemplative life.^[7][5][8]
3. Suited to or encouraging reflection: a contemplative walk by the river.^[7][5][8]
4. Providing for a future event, with of.^[5]
5. (obsolete, 1563–1866) Theoretical.^[5][7]

Noun

1. A person who devotes life to religious contemplation, especially a member of a religious order.^{[10][7][5][8]}

Word family

• contemplatively
• contemplativeness
• noncontemplative
• uncontemplative

Related words

• contemplate
• contemplation
• temple

Usage notes

In the general senses, the word can be stressed on the first syllable as well as on the second.^[8]

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ Benson, Larry D., Glossarial Concordance to Middle English (Chaucer, Gower), Johns Hopkins University, github.com/jhu-digital-manuscripts/gcme
3. ^ a b Stratmann, Francis Henry (1891), A Middle-English Dictionary, revised by Henry Bradley, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c Dictionary.com Unabridged (2016), based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
6. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ a b c d e f Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
8. ^ a b c d e f g h Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
9. ^ Johnson, Samuel (1755), A Dictionary of the English Language, London; 4th ed. 1773; Johnson's Dictionary Online, ed. Beth Rapp Young et al.
10. ^ a b Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins