[a. L. contemplātor, agent-n. from contemplāre. Cf. F. contemplateur (15th c. in Littré).] One who contemplates.
1. A beholder, a thoughtful observer.
1658. Sir T. Browne, Hydriot., 33. Severe contemplators observing these lasting reliques.
1873. Juliet Pollock, in Contemp. Rev., XXII. 352. Wordsworth in his raptures as a contemplator of nature, embraces with a yearning sympathy all humanity.
2. One who meditates upon, considers, or studies anything. Const. of (also † on).
1611. Cotgr., Contemplateur, a contemplator, great thinker, serious beholder of matters.
a. 1660. Hammond, Serm., xii. Wks. 1684, IV. 642. A contemplator of truth.
1793. Beddoes, Math. Evid., 121. This contemplator of beings universal.
1869. J. H. Lupton, Colet’s Dionysius, 117. A contemplator of heavenly things.
b. Without reference to a particular object: One given to or engaged in contemplation.
1607. Walkington, Opt. Glass, Ep. Ded. (1664), 3. Democritus … put out his own eyes, to become a continual Contemplator.
1683. E. Hooker, Pref. Epist. Pordage’s Mystic Div., 67. Subtilities of unconceivably profound Contemplators.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), IX. XIV. iii. 106. The mysticism of Hugo de St. Victor withdrew the Contemplator altogether from the outward to the inner world.
† 3. A speculator, a theorist. (Cf. CONTEMPLATIVE 1 b.) Obs.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, II. 39. There were many … meerely proiecting, verball, and idle contemplators.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., VI. xi. 332. The Platonick contemplators.
