Adjacent Words

Contemplation definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CONTEMPLATION, n. [L.]
1. The act of the mind in considering with attention; meditation; study; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject.
Contemplation is keeping the idea, brought into the mind, some time actually in view.
2. Holy meditation; attention to sacred things; a particular application of the foregoing definition.
To have in contemplation, to intend or purpose, or to have under consideration.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a long and thoughtful observation
2: a calm, lengthy, intent consideration [syn: contemplation, reflection, reflexion, rumination, musing, thoughtfulness]

Merriam Webster's

noun Date: 13th century 1. a. concentration on spiritual things as a form of private devotion b. a state of mystical awareness of God's being 2. an act of considering with attention ; study 3. the act of regarding steadily 4. intention, expectation

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Contemplation Con`tem*pla"tion, n. [F. contemplation, L. contemplatio.] 1. The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study. In contemplation of created things, By steps we may ascend to God. --Milton. Contemplation is keeping the idea which is brought into the mind for some time actually in view. --Locke. 2. Holy meditation. [Obs.] To live in prayer and contemplation. --Shak. 3. The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing. In contemplation of returning at an early date, he left. --Reid. To have in contemplation, to inted or purpose, or to have under consideration.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

see contemplate

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Reflection, meditation, cogitation, deliberation, study, thought, speculation, pondering. 2. View, prospect, prospective. 3. Expectation, prospect, view.

Moby Thesaurus

Angelus, Ave, Ave Maria, Hail Mary, Kyrie Eleison, Paternoster, a wise passiveness, absorbed attention, absorption, advisement, aid prayer, anticipation, appeal, application, ataraxia, ataraxy, beadroll, beads, beseechment, bidding prayer, boning, brainwork, breviary, brooding, calmness, certainty, chaplet, collect, communion, composure, concentration, confidence, conning, consideration, contemplative life, counsel, cram, cramming, deep study, deep thought, deliberation, devotions, discretion, do-nothing policy, do-nothingism, do-nothingness, dormancy, drill, engagement, engrossment, entreaty, envisagement, envisionment, examination, exercise, expectancy, expectation, extensive study, eyeball inspection, farseeingness, farsightedness, forecast, foreglance, foregleam, foreglimpse, forehandedness, foreseeing, foresight, foresightedness, grace, grind, grinding, headwork, idleness, immersion, imminence, immobility, imperturbability, impetration, imploration, inaction, inactivity, indolence, inertia, inertness, inspection, intentness, intercession, invocation, involvement, laissez-aller, laissez-faire, laissez-faireism, litany, longsightedness, looking ahead, lucid stillness, lucubration, marmoreal repose, meditation, mental labor, monomania, musing, neutralism, neutrality, neutralness, nirvana, noninvolvement, nonparticipation, nonresistance, nonviolence, nonviolent resistance, obsecration, obsession, obtestation, ocular inspection, orison, overview, pacifism, paralysis, passive resistance, passive self-annihilation, passiveness, passivism, passivity, peace, peacefulness, perusal, petition, placidity, placidness, policy, pondering, practice, prayer, prayer wheel, prediction, preoccupation, preparation, prepublication, preview, prevision, probability, procrastination, profound thought, prospect, prospection, providence, provision, prudence, quiescence, quiescency, quiet, quietism, quietness, quietude, rapt attention, readiness, reading, reflection, reliance, repose, rest, restfulness, restudy, restudying, review, revolving, rogation, rosary, rumination, sagacity, satori, scrutiny, serenity, silence, silent prayer, silken repose, single-mindedness, sleep, slumber, speculation, stagnancy, stagnation, standpattism, stasis, stillness, studiousness, study, studying, subject, submersion, suit, supplication, survey, swotting, thanks, thanksgiving, the eye, thought, tranquillity, unastonishment, vegetation, vetting, visual examination, vita contemplativa, waiting game, watching and waiting, weighing, wide reading, wise passiveness