/ ˌkɒntəmˈpleɪʃn; NAmE ˌkɑːn-/ noun [ U ] ( formal )
1.
the act of thinking deeply about sth :
He sat there deep in contemplation.
a few moments of quiet contemplation
a life of prayer and contemplation
2.
the act of looking at sth in a calm and careful way :
She turned from her contemplation of the photograph.
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IDIOMS
- in contemplation
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French , from Latin contemplatio(n-) , from the verb contemplari , based on templum place for observation.