sb. and a. Now rare. Also 67 -orie. [ad. L. speculātōri-us: see SPECULATE v. and -ORY. In sense 1 of the sb. from the L. fem. speculātōria (sc. ars): cf. F. spéculatoire.]
A. sb. † 1. The observation or study of occult phenomena. Obs.
1569. J. Sanford, trans. Agrippas Van. Artes, 52 b. Out of the same fundation commeth Speculatorie, which doth enterprete thunder, lightning, and other impressions of the Elementes.
1676. trans. Agrippas Van. Arts (1684), 99. Among the Arts therefore of Fortune-telling vulgarly professed in hope of gain, are Physiognomy, Soothsaying, Speculatory, and Interpretation of Dreams.
† 2. A place of observation. Obs.1
1619. J. Bainbridge, Descr. Late Comet, 14. Appearing to our eye on the superficies of this terrestriall speculatorie.
† 3. = SPECULATOR 2. Obs.1
1775. L. Shaw, Hist. Moray, V. 211. By their speculatories or scouts, they had certain intelligence of the Kings approach.
B. adj. † 1. Of the nature of, pertaining to, occult speculation. Obs.
1588. J. Harvey, Disc. Probl., 26. No Opticall, or Speculatorie Theories: no Cabalisticall, or Traditionall Suppositions.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 244. Whether mythology or astrology (the poeticall or the speculatory fable) serves most to make one another good or more significant?
1676. trans. Agrippas Van. Arts (1684), 105. Upon the same Grounds the Art of Speculatory Divination is founded.
† 2. Inspectorial. Obs.1
1634. T. Carew, Cælum Brit., 5. My privileges are an ubiquitary, circumambulatory, speculatory, interrogatory, redargutory immunity over all the privy lodgings.
3. Serving for observation; affording an outlook or view.
1781. Warton, Hist. Kiddington (1783), 58. Both these [Roman camps] were nothing more than speculatory outposts to the Akeman-street.
1791. W. Gilpin, Forest Scenery, II. 99. Another small fort is generally supposed to have been a speculatory station to the grand camp of Buckland.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. V. ii. Extreme Left; sitting on the topmost benches, as if aloft on its speculatory Height or Mountain.