con·tem·plate [ kóntəm plàyt ](past and past participlecon·tem·plat·ed, present participlecon·tem·plat·ing, 3rd person present singularcon·tem·plates)
verb
Definition:
1. transitive verb have something as possible intention: to think about something as a possible course of action contemplating a move to a new location
2. transitive verb consider something: to think about something seriously and at length, especially in order to understand it more fully I sat there, contemplating what she'd said.
3. intransitive verb think about spiritual matters: to think calmly and at length, especially as a religious or spiritual exercise
4. transitive verb look at something thoughtfully: to look at something thoughtfully and steadily tourists contemplating the restored frescoes
[Late 16th century. < Latin contemplat-, past participle of contemplari "observe carefully" < templum "space for observing omens"]
