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.