contemplate: [16] Etymologically, to contemplate something is to observe it in a ‘temple’. The word comes from the past participle of Latin contemplārī, a compound verb formed from the intensive prefix com- and templum. This word, source of course of English temple, originally signified a space marked out by augurs (priests in ancient Rome who interpreted omens) for making observations. Hence contemplārī originally meant ‘observe omens carefully’, but its application soon became more general. => temple
contemplate (v.)
1590s, from Latin contemplatus, past participle of contemplari "survey, observe" (see contemplation). Related: Contemplated; contemplating.
中文解释
1、con- "intensive prefix" + templ- "area for the taking of auguries" + -ate.2、字面意思：mark out a space for observation" (as an augur does). => gaze attentively, observe, act of looking at, religious musing.
实用例句
1. The possibility of war is too horrifying to contemplate.
战争的可能性太可怕了,真不堪细想.
来自《简明英汉词典》
2. We don't contemplate his [ him ] opposing our plan.
我们预料他不会反对我们的计划.
来自《简明英汉词典》
3. The consequences would be too ghastly to contemplate.
后果不堪设想.
来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
4. That makes it difficult to contemplate the idea that the present policy may not be sustainable.
那让人难以认真思考这个可能，即目前的政策也许并不能持续下去。
来自柯林斯例句
5. He may try to blast his way out of trouble, playing attacking shots to balls he would not normally contemplate hitting.