contemplate
UK[ˈkɒn.təm.pleɪt]US[ˈkɑːn.təm.pleɪt]
v
To think about something deeply and for a long time.
v
To look at or consider something thoughtfully.
v
To think about something as a possible future action or event.
Morpheme Breakdown
con
templ
ate
con
with
templ
ate
Etymology
The word 'contemplate' originates from the Latin verb 'contemplari', which itself is built from the prefix 'con-' (meaning 'with' or 'thoroughly') and the base 'templum'. In ancient Roman religion, a 'templum' was a consecrated space marked out by a priest for observing omens in the sky. Thus, the literal sense of 'contemplari' was 'to observe or consider omens in a sacred space'. Over time, the meaning broadened from this specific, ritualistic act of observation to the more general and abstract mental acts of deep observation, consideration, and reflection. The modern sense retains the core idea of focused, profound, and often prolonged mental attention, whether directed inward at thoughts or outward at a scene.
Analysis
Structure: con + templ + ate
- con: Latin origin, a prefix meaning 'with', 'together', or 'thoroughly'. It functions as an intensifier here.
- templ: Latin origin, from 'templum', meaning a sacred space for observation (as by a priest). It functions as the core root related to observation.
- ate: Latin origin, a verb-forming suffix indicating an action or process.
Examples
She sat quietly to contemplate the meaning of the poem.
He contemplated the vast landscape from the mountain top.
They are contemplating a move to another city next year.