to calculate

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.

This word, which properly means to compute, to estimate, has been erroneously transferred from the language of the counting-house to that of common life, where it is used for the words, to esteem; to suppose; to believe; to think; to expect; intend, &c. It is employed in a similar way to the word guess, though not to so great an extent. Its use is confined to the illiterate of New England.


Mr. Cram requested those persons who calculated to join the singin' school to come forward.--Knickerbocker Mag. Vol. xvii.

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