English
contemplation
Contemplation comes from Latin contemplor ‘to observe, note or notice’, and goes back to templum.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtemplum‘an open space for augural observation’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcontemplor‘to observe, note or notice’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcontemplatio
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400contemplation
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500contemplacioun
- Englishearliest quotation 1836contemplation
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtemplum‘an open space for augural observation’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcontemplor‘to observe, note or notice’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcontemplatio
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400contemplation
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500contemplacioun
- Englishearliest quotation 1836contemplation
Earliest quotation: 1836, – 1837 October, Charles Dickens: “Mr. Pickwick congratulated the fortunate owner of the irresistible…”
Equivalent to contemplate + -ion
Latin templum ‘temple, shrine, area for auspices’
Latin contemplor ‘to observe, survey, gaze (at), contemplate’
Latin contemplātus ‘having observed, noted, noticed’
English contemplate
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *temp- ‘to stretch, pull’
temperature, temporary, tense, antenna, temper, tempo, template, tamper, tempura, matin, 28 more
through Latin templum ‘an open space for augural observation’
Today it means
noun The act of contemplating; being highly concentrated in thought; musing.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin templum / contemplation