speculor Latin · revision 10080
17 Oct 2026, 01:38 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *speḱ-}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈspɛ.kʊ.ɫɔr]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈspɛː.ku.lor]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''speculor''' (present infinitive speculārī, perfect active speculātus sum); first conjugation, deponent^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is from [[specula]] “lookout” with [[m|la|-or]], from [[speciō]] “to look”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) De Vaan traces ⟨speciō⟩ to [[ine-pro|*spéḱ-ye/o-|t=to look]], cognate with [[sa|पश्यति|tr=páśyati|t=sees]].^(de Vaan 2008)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's earliest citation is Plautus, of spying out.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant to spy out, explore, reconnoitre, as in Plautus; to keep a close watch on, observe, as in Cicero; to look out or watch for, as in Virgil; and in Columella to note by observation.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)
+
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it means to spy, examine, watch carefully, investigate.^(Stelten 1995) It survives as Spanish and Portuguese ''especular'' and French ''spéculer'', and English ''speculate'' (1590s) is formed from its family.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of spying.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of watching.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of watching for.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 1590s – English ''speculate'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Verb===
+ # To watch, [[m|en|observe]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)
+ # To spy out, [[m|en|reconnoitre]].^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)
+ # To watch for.^(OLD 2012)
+ # To note, descry.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[dēspeculō]]
+ * [[perspeculor]]
+ * [[praespeculor]]
+ * [[prospeculor]]
+ * [[speculābilis]]
+ * [[speculābundus]]
+ * [[speculamen]]
+ * [[speculātiō]]
+ * [[speculātīvus]]
+ * [[speculātor]]
+ * [[speculātōrius]]
+ * [[speculātrīx]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[specula]]
+ * [[speciō]]
+ * [[en|speculate]]
+
+ ==Usage notes==
+ Lewis & Short compare ''spectō'' and ''cōnspiciō''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}