v. Obs. Also 6 Sc. contempil. [a. F. contemple-r, ad. L. contemplāre, orig. deponent contemplārī, to survey, observe, behold, consider, contemplate, f. con- + templum ‘an open place for observation, marked out by the augur with his staff’ (see TEMPLE).] trans. To CONTEMPLATE; to observe, consider, meditate upon.

1

1502.  Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), IV. xxix. 341. Contemple, and esmaruayll the grete and incomprenable dyfference.

2

c. 1532.  Dewes, Introd. Fr., in Palsgr., 897. The causes … contempled and consydered.

3

1549.  Compl. Scot., vii. 70. Sche began to contempil the vidthrid barran feildis.

4

1605.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. ii. IV. (1641), 135/1. So ravished, I may at rest contemple The Starry Arches of thy stately Temple.

5

  Hence † Contempling (in Sc. -ene) vbl. sb.

6

1549.  Compl. Scot., vi. 46. The lang studie and contemplene of the sternis.

7