Contemplative

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /kənˈtɛmplətɪv/

Definitions

1. Characterized by deep, thoughtful reflection or meditation on a subject
2. Engaged in pensive consideration and introspection about various ideas or experiences
3. Involving a mindset focused on reflection, often leading to insights and personal understanding

Etymology: The adjective arrived in English from Old French "contemplatif", which in turn came from the Latin "contemplativus", a word built around "contemplari", to observe or gaze attentively at a place. The Latin verb is itself rooted in "templum", a space marked out by augurs for observing the sky and reading omens, so the earliest sense of contemplation was a kind of formal, disciplined looking. That physical image of watching from a fixed point stayed in the family for centuries. In Middle English the word was used mainly in a religious sense, describing the monastic life of prayer and meditation set against the active life of public service. The contrast was a familiar one in medieval Christian thought, and the adjective carried it into English. Only later did it settle into the everyday sense of quiet, reflective thoughtfulness that it has today.

Synonyms: reflective, meditative, thoughtful, pensive, introspective

Antonyms: unreflective, carefree, thoughtless, impulsive, hasty