contemplare

to contemplate

verb kohn-tem-PLAH-reh Rare

Origin: From Latin contemplari, from con- + templum (sacred space for observation).

Also means

to provide for

Usage Note

Contemplare takes avere as its auxiliary. Beyond gazing thoughtfully, it has a legal and administrative sense in Italian: la legge contempla questo caso (the law provides for this case). This second sense has no direct parallel in English 'contemplate' and catches learners off guard.

Examples

"Il filosofo contemplava il cielo stellato."

Natural Translation

The philosopher contemplated the starry sky.

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