spĕcŭlor, ātus, 1
* V. dep. a. [1. specula], to spy out, watch, observe, examine, explore (class.; cf.: specto, conspicio): quo mox furatum veniat, speculatur loca,Plaut. Trin. 4, 2, 22: St. Quid hic speculare? Pa. Nihil equidem speculor, id. Cas. 4, 2, 12: omnia speculari et perscrutari ante,Cic. Tusc. 5, 20, 59: multorum te oculi et aures speculabuntur atque custodient,id. Cat. 1, 2, 6: Rostra, id. fl. 24, 57: jam vacuo laetam (avem) caelo speculatus,having caught sight of, descried,Verg. A. 5, 515: praemissus speculatum Bocchi consilia,Sall. J. 108, 1; so, consilia,Liv. 42, 17: dicta factaque alicujus,id. 42, 25, 8: abditos ejus sensus,id. 40, 21, 11: eventum Bellovacorum, to look for, i. e. await, Hirt. B. G. 8, 23: regni eventus,Just. 25, 3, 7: opportunitatem,to watch for,Tac. H. 3, 38; Vell. 2, 120, 4; cf.: noctem incustoditam,Tac. A. 2, 40: obitus et ortus signorum,Verg. G. 1, 257: aquas et nubila caeli (apes),id. ib. 4, 166: locum,id. A. 7, 477.—With interrog.-clause: nunc speculabor, quid ibi agatur,Plaut. Truc. 4, 1, 10: ut specularetur, quae in laevā parte suorum fortuna esset,Liv. 33, 10: huc hinc speculabor procul, Unde advenienti sarcinam imponam seni,Plaut. Most. 2, 1, 82.— Absol.: speculabor, ne quis hinc venator assit,Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 13: quid ad se venirent? an speculandi causā?Caes. B. G. 1, 47 fin.: speculandi gratiā remissi,Hirt. B. G. 8, 7: imprudenter speculatus,Vell. 2, 118, 2: montis sublime cacumen Occupat, unde sedens partes speculetur in omnes,he can look around,Ov. M. 1, 667.