Emily Dickinson Lexicon

speculation (-s, -'s), n. [see speculate, v.] (webplay: high, land, relations, thoughts).

1. Conjecture; anticipation; expectation of occurrence.
2. Illusion; mirage; passing fancy.
3. Contemplation; questioning; wondering; pondering; profound study; attempt to ascertain; hypothetical reasoning.
4. Purchase; determination of value; practice of buying and selling land in order to profit by the rise in the market value; [personification] risk; gambling; gambler.