contemplation Look up contemplation at Dictionary.com
early 13c., from O.Fr. contemplation, from L. contemplationem "act of looking at," from contemplari "to gaze attentively, observe," orig. "to mark out a space for observation" (as an augur does). From com- intensive prefix + templum "area for the taking of auguries" (see temple). Originally in Eng., "religious musing."
speculation Look up speculation at Dictionary.com
late 14c., "contemplation, consideration," from O.Fr. speculation, from L.L. speculationem (nom. speculatio) "contemplation, observation," from L. speculatus, pp. of speculari "observe," from specere "to look at, view" (see scope (1)). Disparaging sense of "mere conjecture" is recorded from 1570s. Meaning "buying and selling in search of profit from rise and fall of market value" is recorded from 1774; short form spec is attested from 1794.
contemplate Look up contemplate at Dictionary.com
c.1600, from L. contemplat-, pp. stem of contemplari (see contemplation). Related: Contemplated (pp. adj., 1863); contemplating (1660s).
contemplative Look up contemplative at Dictionary.com
mid-14c., from O.Fr. contemplatif (12c.), from L. contemplativus, from pp. stem of contemplari (see contemplation).
theory Look up theory at Dictionary.com
1590s, "conception, mental scheme," from L.L. theoria (Jerome), from Gk. theoria "contemplation, speculation, a looking at, things looked at," from theorein "to consider, speculate, look at," from theoros "spectator," from thea "a view" + horan "to see." Sense of "principles or methods of a science or art (rather than its practice)" is first recorded 1610s. That of "an explanation based on observation and reasoning" is from 1630s.
entomology Look up entomology at Dictionary.com
1766, from Fr. entomologie (1764), coined from Gk. entomon "insect" + logia "study of." Entomon is neut. of entomos "having a notch or cut (at the waist)," so called by Aristotle in reference to the segmented division of insect bodies, from en- "in" + temnein "to cut." Compare insect.
"I have given the name insectology to that part of natural history which has insects for its object; that of entomology ... would undoubtedly have been more suitable ... but its barbarous sound terryfy'd me." [Charles Bonnet's Eng. translation of his "Contemplation de la nature," 1766]