English → Latin
“contemplation” in Latin
contemplātiōcontemplation; surveycōnsīderātiōgaze, inspection (act of looking); contemplation, considerationīnspectiōinspection, examination; consideration, investigation, contemplationmeditātiōThe act of thinking over something, contemplation, meditation; thought, idea.; The act of planning or devising.; Preparacommentātiōmeditation, studying; treatise, dissertationagitōto act, behave, do, or make persistently or unremittingly; to put something in motion, drive, impel; drive by rowing, roanimuslife, life force, soul, vitality (that life-giving aspect which animates a thing); conscience, intellect, mind, reason, cōgitōto think; to ponder, meditate, reflect, consider (i.e. think of, about, over); to intend, design, purpose, plan, devise parōto arrange, order, contrive, design; to provide, furnish, prepare; to resolve, purpose, decidemōliorto strive, endeavor, work at; to put in motion, shake, move; to rouse, bestir
The English word contemplation itself goes back to Latin templum, through contemplatio.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
contemplation
contemplatio: consideratio: inspectio (as well with the eyes as with the mind): careful, minute contemplation, conspectus (e.g., of nature, naturae): repeated or diligent, constant contemplation, contemplationes (Vid: Görenz, Cic., Fin., 5, 19, 51): to be blind in the contemplation of things, caecum esse in contemplandis rebus: a careful and accurate contemplation, magna ac diligens contemplatio (Cic.): the contemplation of nature, consideratio contemplatioque naturae.
Meditation [Vid:] , meditatio: commentatio: to be wrapped in contemplation, multa cum animo suo cogitare: wrapped in contemplation, mente in aliqua re defixus: in cogitatione defixus: worthy of contemplation, contemplatione dignus: contemplandus: considerandus: visendus. [Vid: CONSIDERATIION.]
To have anything in contemplation, agitare also with (in) mente or animo: cogitare (with following infinitive): parare (to be preparing): moliri (a great and difficult work): id agere, ut, etc.: the contemplation of great undertakings, magnarum rerumagitatio. Vid: PURPOSE.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for contemplation?
- The usual Latin words for “contemplation” are contemplātiō, cōnsīderātiō, īnspectiō; also meditātiō, commentātiō, agitō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.