Contempler

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. One who regards something with thoughtful attention ; a person who observes or studies carefully ; an individual engaged in deep or prolonged consideration
2. An individual who views or examines an object or scene attentively ; someone who reflects thoughtfully on a subject ; a person absorbed in careful observation or meditation
3. A person who directs focused observation towards something ; an observer who analyzes or thinks deeply about what is perceived ; an individual committed to sustained and attentive scrutiny

Etymology: The Latin "templum" did not originally mean a building. It was a marked-out area of sky or ground that Roman augurs set apart to watch birds and read omens. Adding "com-" produced "contemplari," to observe within such a space, and from there the sense shifted toward looking at something steadily and thinking about it. English took the verb "contemplate" from that Latin root. The noun "contempler" is a plain English formation: the verb with the agent ending "-er" attached, naming someone who performs the action. It sits beside the Latinate "contemplator," which follows the same pattern through its Latin suffix. Both describe a person who watches or considers something closely.

Synonyms: observer, thinker, reflector, ponderer