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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Speculatio(u)n(e, -acioun, n. [ME and e.m.E. speculacioun (Chaucer), -ation (1471), -atioun (c1520), OF speculation (13th c. in Larousse), late L. speculātiōn-, f. speculārī to spy out, observe.] Contemplation, thought; freq. contemplation of a particularly profound sort into deep or abstruse matters, also seen as a faculty of the mind; profound or assiduous study. Also const. of the thing studied.(1) 1456 Hay II 17/13.
The knaulage … writtin in bukis be wys men … sa that ignorant ȝong lordis barnis mycht first lere the science be study and speculacioun and syne efter … lere the practik of the ordre 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 30.
Gawane Dowglas … Had … Abufe vulgare poetis prerogatyue Boith in pratick and speculatioun 1549 Compl. 14/5.
Ther can nocht be ane mair folye as quhen ane ydiot … presumis to teche … ane man that hes baytht speculatione ande experiens 1549 Compl. 56/23.
The speculatione and contemplatione of mennis ingyne culd neuyr consaue ane final determinatione of the soune, mune, and of the sternis(2) 1549 Compl. 9/35.
Quhou beit that the laubir vitht the pen & the studie on [? erron. for or] speculatione of vertu apeir to be ydilnes, ȝit thai ar no ydilnes 1549 Compl. 10/3.
Gode hes nocht dotit me vitht speculatione of liberal sciens nor philosophe … ther for I vil help to the auansing of the public veil vitht my studye & vitht my pen 1549 Compl. 62/22. c1550-c1580 Art of Music 94.
Be rewlis and exemplis ostensywe quhair throw studentis be speculation ma recew vnderstanding … of the samyn [sc. kind of harmony]

b. An instance of thought of a speculative or conjectural sort. 1549 Compl. 32/21.
The pagan philosophours held mony vane opinions & tynt mekil tyme in vane questions & speculations