English
speculatory
Speculatory comes from Latin speculātōrius ‘of or pertaining to spies or scouts’, from speculor ‘to watch, to observe’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *speḱ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*speḱ-‘to see, to look, to observe’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*spéḱyeti‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*spekjō‘to observe, see’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeciō‘to watch, to observe’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEspecula‘watchtower’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeculor‘to watch, to observe’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeculātor‘spy, scout’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeculātōrius‘of or pertaining to spies or scouts’
- Englishearliest quotation 1633speculatory
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*speḱ-‘to see, to look, to observe’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*spéḱyeti‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*spekjō‘to observe, see’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeciō‘to watch, to observe’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEspecula‘watchtower’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeculor‘to watch, to observe’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeculātor‘spy, scout’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeculātōrius‘of or pertaining to spies or scouts’
- Englishearliest quotation 1633speculatory
Earliest quotation: 1633, Thomas Carew: “My privileges are an ubiquitary, circumambulatory, speculatory, interrogatory, redargutory…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- ‘to see, to look, to observe’
spy, suspicion, microscope, espionage, skeptic, kaleidoscope, gyroscope, espy, 117 more
through Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti ‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’
scope, skeptical, endoscopic, macroscopic, spectroscopic, 115 more
through Proto-Italic *spekjō ‘to observe, see’
inconspicuous, especial, 27 more
through Latin speciō ‘to watch, to observe’
special, despite, specific, respect, species, perspective, aspect, spite, spectrum, spice, inspection, expectation, inspector, spectacular, specify, specimen, spectacle, inspect, retrospective, conspicuous, retrospect, spectator, expectant, specter, specious, circumspect, 26 more
Today it means
adj Intended or adapted for viewing or looking out.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- / speculatory