[f. as prec.] The quality of being speculative; tendency towards speculation.
1727. Bailey (vol. II.), Speculativeness, Propenseness to Speculation, Studiousness in Observation: Speculativeness is the Opposite to Practicalness.
1828–32. Webster, Speculativeness, the state of being speculative, or of consisting in speculation only.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr., XIV. ii. VI. 402. The one man who at that period … by the congenial speculativeness of his mind … was qualified to translate into Latin the mysterious doctrines of the Areopagite.
1890. Nature, 30 Oct., 633. The subject is worked out with all Mr. Seebohm’s … energy and speculativeness.
