[spec.u.late] vb -lat.ed ; -lat.ing [L speculatus, pp. of speculari to spy out, examine, fr. specula watchtower, fr. specere to look, look at--more at spy] vi (1599) 1 a: to meditate on or ponder a subject: reflect b: to review something idly or casually and often inconclusively
2: to assume a business risk in hope of gain; esp: to buy or sell in expectation of profiting from market fluctuations ~ vt 1: to take to be true on the basis of insufficient evidence: theorize "speculated that a virus caused the disease"
2: to be curious or doubtful about: wonder "~s whether it will rain all vacation" syn see think -- spec.u.la.tor n