All 18 Uses of
speculate
in
Main Street
- Would he not betray himself an alien cynic who should otherwise portray Main Street, or distress the citizens by speculating whether there may not be other faiths?
Chpt 1 (definition 1)speculating = wondering (aloud)
- She stared with seriousness at every concrete crossing, every hitching-post, every rake for leaves; and to each house she devoted all her speculation.
Chpt 4 (definition 1)speculation = thought
- Her dejection was relieved by speculation as to what the men were discussing, in the corner between the piano and the phonograph.
Chpt 4 (definition 1)
- In shame she knew that they glanced appraisingly at her snowy overshoes, speculating about her legs.
Chpt 9 (definition 1)speculating = wondering
- Much speculation with Bea: Had the obstetrical case taken longer than he had expected? Had he been called somewhere else? Was the snow much heavier out in the country...
Chpt 15 (definition 1)speculation = guessing or theorizing
- She tried to free herself from the speculation and disillusionment which had been twitching at her; sought to dismiss all the opinionation of an insurgent era.
Chpt 15 (definition 1)speculation = thoughts
- "Guess we're about in for a blizzard," speculated Kennicott
Chpt 15 (definition 1) *speculated = guessed
- The movies were almost as vital to Kennicott and the other solid citizens of Gopher Prairie as land-speculation and guns and automobiles.
Chpt 16 (definition 2)speculation = investment
- She was quickened by the speculation in his eyes.
Chpt 16 (definition 1)speculation = thought
- They speculated as to how flats could be lashed together to form a wall; they hung crocus-yellow curtains at the windows; they blacked the sheet-iron stove; they put on aprons and swept.
Chpt 18 (definition 1)
- Vida speculated, "Do you know that I may not be here next year?"
Chpt 21 (definition 1)speculated = pursued a line of thought
- Cy was no longer the weedy boy who had sat in the loft speculating about Carol's egotism and the mysteries of generation.
Chpt 23 (definition 1)speculating = thinking
- She was humbled by his humility; she put away in her mind, to take out and worry over later, a speculation as to whether it was not she who was naive.
Chpt 29 (definition 1)speculation = thought or theory
- "When will they have me on the scaffold?" Carol speculated.
Chpt 32 (definition 1)speculated = wondered
- In charge of the campaign was Mr. James Blausser, who had recently come to town to speculate in land.
Chpt 35 (definition 2) *speculate = risk money in an investment
- Yet these army and navy men, these bureau experts, and organizers of multitudinous leagues, were cheerful on three or four thousand a year, while Kennicott had, outside of his land speculations, six thousand or more, and Sam had eight.
Chpt 37 (definition 2)speculations = investments
- She speculated, "I could have made so much of him——"
Chpt 38 (definition 1)speculated = thought
- She did not finish her speculation.
Chpt 38 (definition 1)
Definitions:
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(1) (speculate as in: don't know, but I'll speculate) to think about, wonder, guess or theorize with much uncertainty
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(2) (speculate as in: speculate in the stock market) to take a risk for profit--typically a risky investment