From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Speculative \Spec"u*la*tive\ (sp[e^]k"[-u]*l[.a]*t[i^]v), a.
[Cf. F. sp['e]culatif, L. speculativus.]
1. Given to speculation; contemplative.
[1913 Webster]
The mind of man being by nature speculative.
--Hooker.
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2. Involving, or formed by, speculation; ideal; theoretical;
not established by demonstration. --Cudworth.
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3. Of or pertaining to vision; also, prying; inquisitive;
curious. [R.] --Bacon.
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4. Of or pertaining to speculation in land, goods, shares,
etc.; as, a speculative dealer or enterprise.
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The speculative merchant exercises no one regular,
established, or well-known branch of business. --A.
Smith.
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5. (Finance) More risky than typical investments; not
investment grade.
[PJC] -- {Spec"u*la*tive*ly}, adv. --
{Spec"u*la*tive*ness}, n.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
speculative
adj 1: not financially safe or secure; "a bad investment"; "high
risk investments"; "anything that promises to pay too
much can't help being risky"; "speculative business
enterprises" [syn: {bad}, {risky}, {high-risk},
{speculative}]
2: not based on fact or investigation; "a notional figure of
cost helps in determining production costs"; "speculative
knowledge" [syn: {notional}, {speculative}]
3: showing curiosity; "if someone saw a man climbing a light
post they might get inquisitive"; "raised a speculative
eyebrow" [syn: {inquisitive}, {speculative}, {questioning},
{wondering(a)}]
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