late 14c., "intelligent contemplation, consideration; act of looking," from Old French speculacion "close observation, rapt attention," and directly from Late Latin speculationem (nominative speculatio) "contemplation, observation," noun of action from Latin speculatus, past participle of speculari "observe," from specere "to look at, view" (see scope (n.1)).
Meaning "pursuit of the truth by means of thinking" is from mid-15c. Disparaging sense of "mere conjecture" is recorded from 1570s. Meaning "buying and selling in search of profit from rise and fall of market value" is recorded from 1774; short form spec is attested from 1794.
实用例句
1. Speculation centred on a likely bid price of 380p a share.
大多数人猜测买方出价可能为每股380便士。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The group's problems have led to speculation that heads will roll.
已经有人猜测，该集团的问题会导致一些人被解雇。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Oil speculation proved a natural arena for his skills.
在石油业中进行投机活动对他来说游刃有余。
来自柯林斯例句
4. It triggered broad speculation that GM and Jaguar might be talking.
这引发了人们对通用公司和捷豹公司可能在进行磋商的大量猜测.
来自柯林斯例句
5. We won't dignify this kind of speculation with a comment.