v. [f. L. contemplāt- ppl. stem of contemplāre, -ārī: see CONTEMPLE.
In a few rare cases (Shakespeare, Hudibras) stressed co·ntemplate in 16–17th c.; also by Kenrick 1773, Webster 1828, among writers on pronunciation. Byron, Shelley, and Tennyson have both modes, but the orthoepists generally have conte·mplate down to third quarter of 19th c.; since that time co·ntemplate has more and more prevailed, and conte·mplate begins to have a flavor of age. This is the common tendency with all verbs in -ate. Of these, the antepenult stress is historical in all words in which the penult represents a short Latin syllable, as acce·lerate, a·nimate, fa·scinate, ma·chinate, mi·litate, or one prosodically short or long, as in ce·lebrate, co·nsecrate, e·migrale; regularly also when the penult has a vowel long in Latin, as a·lienate, a·spirate, conca·tenate, de·nudate, ela·borate, i·ndurate, pe·rsonate, ru·inate (L. aliēno, aspīro, etc.). But where the penult has two or three consonants giving positional length, the stress has historically been on the penult, and its shift to the antepenult is recent or still in progress, as in acervate, adumbrate, alternate, compensate, concentrate, condensate, confiscate, conquassate, constellate, demonstrate, decussate, desiccate, enervate, exacerbate, exculpate, illustrate, inculcate, objurgate, etc., all familiar with penult stress to middle-aged men. The influence of the noun of action in -ation is a factor in the change; thus the analogy of co:nsecra·tion, co·nsecrate, etc., suggests de:monstra·tion, de·monstrate. But there being no remonstration in use, remo·nstrate, supported by remo·nstrance, keeps the earlier stress.]
1. trans. To look at with continued attention, gaze upon, view, observe; = BEHOLD 7 a. (Now usually with mixture of sense 2: To observe or look at thoughtfully.)
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. vi. § 5. The day wherein God did rest and contemplate his own works.
1671. Milton, P. R., I. 380. To love, at least contemplate and admire What I see excellent in good, or fair.
1700. Dryden, Fables, Pythag. Philos., 350. On the verge of death he stands Contemplating his former feet and hands.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Vanderput & S., i. 9. Contemplating her from head to foot.
1860. Hawthorne, Transf., i. The beautiful statue which they were contemplating.
1867. Lady Herbert, Cradle L., v. 149. Whence Moses contemplated the Promised Land.
2. To view mentally; to consider attentively, meditate upon, ponder, study.
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 13. As for the soule … so farre forth as she is able to contemplate herselfe.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 103. The cause … would be better contemplated.
1703. Tate, Her Majesty’s Pict., xiii. O Pow’r, Contemplate here thy own Display!
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 95. In contemplating the use and benefit of such a structure as this.
1814. Byron, Lara, I. x. Such scene his soul no more could contemplate.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., cxviii. Contemplate all this work of Time.
1886. Morley, Ht. Martineau, Crit. Misc. III. 202. Her manner of life during these years is pleasant to contemplate.
3. To consider in a certain aspect; to look upon, regard.
1799. S. Turner, Anglo-Sax. (1836), I. III. i. 149. [It] must not be contemplated as a barbarisation of the country.
1821. J. Q. Adams, in C. Davies, Metr. Syst., III. 84. Is it not necessary to contemplate it in all its aspects?
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, I. 573. The Court could not contemplate the bill with satisfaction.
4. To have in view, look for, expect, take into account as a contingency to be provided for.
1792. A. Hamilton, Lett. to G. Washington, 19 Nov. Wks. 1851, IV. 329. The decree … contemplated a negociation between the executive power in France and our minister there.
1807. J. Marshall, Const. Opin. (1839), 44. Their opinions, however, contemplate the actual employment of force.
1841. Myers, Cath. Th., IV. xxvii. 308. Never did Judaism contemplate the entire consecration of every individual soul to God.
1885. Sir H. Cotton, in Law Times Rep., LII. 291. So far as we can judge from his will, he did not contemplate the event which has happened.
b. To have in view as a purpose; to intend, purpose.
1816. J. C. Hobhouse, Subst. of Lett., I. 7. A single evidence that her usurper had ever contemplated to make her beautiful or great.
1839. S. R. Maitland, Eight Ess. (1852), 176. But he [Peter Waldo] did not found or enter a monastery; nor does it appear that he held any heresy, or contemplated any schism.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. iv. 289. No further … measures were immediately contemplated against the clergy.
1858. Dickens, Lett. (1880), II. 81. I hope she does not contemplate coming to the morning reading.
c. To regard, respect, have reference to.
1875. E. White, Life in Christ, III. xvii. (1878), 206. A divine regenerative process … which contemplates the whole humanity, body as well as soul.
5. intr. To be occupied in contemplation; to meditate, muse.
1592. Davies, Immort. Soul, xxvii. ii. Will ever acts, and wit contemplates still.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. v. 33. So many Houres, must I Contemplate: So many Houres, must I Sport my selfe.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 526, ¶ 2. To contemplate in the fresh Air.
1814. Southey, Roderick, XXI. 419. Julian was silent then, and sate contemplating.
† 6. Contemplate on, upon: a. to look at attentively, gaze thoughtfully upon; = sense 1. Obs.
1620. Shelton, Quix., III. xxix. 202. First he contemplated on the Amenity of those Banks, the Clearness of the Water.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., II. 45. They that contemplate on the Starry Sky.
† b. To meditate upon; = sense 2. (Also with over). Obs.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], trans. Hist. Ivstine, A iv b. By contemplating on the vertue of good men.
1622. Peacham, Compl. Gentl. (1661), 75–6. Sapor King of Persia … had an heaven of glasse, which, proudly sitting in his state, he trod upon with his feet, contemplating over the same, as if he had been Jupiter.
1635. Austin, Medit., 194. But retyred in the Wildernesse … to contemplate on the presence of God.
1676. Hale, Contempl., I. 440. Contemplating upon thy Goodness and Excellency.
1717. Bullock, Wom. a Riddle, IV. 45. I cou’d contemplate on these lines to perpetuity.
1830. D’Israeli, Chas. I., III. i. 8. Too deeply occupied by their own projects to contemplate on those of others.
Hence Contemplated ppl. a., Contemplating vbl. sb. and ppl. a.; Contemplatingly adv., in a contemplating manner, contemplatively.
1670. Clarendon, Ess., Tracts (1727), 188. A mere contemplating man.
1751. Eliza Heywood, Betsy Thoughtless, III. 29. She was in this contemplating mood, when, [etc.].
1818. Keats, Endymion, I. 355. Who thus were ripe for high contemplating.
a. 1822. Shelley, Assassins, iv. Ess. & Lett. (Camelot ed.), 178. The stranger gazed upon it … thoughtfully and contemplatingly.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, II. ii. Apart from any contemplated gain to himself.
