Forms: 3 cogitaciun, 5–6 cogi-, cogytacion, -yon, 6 -tyon, 6– cogitation. [a. OF. cogitaciun, -acion, ad. L. cōgitātiōn-em, n. of action, f. cōgitāre to think.]
1. The action of thinking or reflecting; attentive consideration, reflection, meditation.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 288. Þreo degrez beoð þerinne [in lust] … Þe uorme is cogitaciun … Cogitaciuns, þet beoð fleoinde þouhtes þet ne lesteð nout.
1545. Udall, Erasm. Par., Pref. (1548), 12. Suspend both his cogitacion and his penne.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 70 b. More is gatherde by cogitacion than if the thyng had been spoken in plaine woordes.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. iv. 13. What by cogitation, wee find to be the cause of any thing.
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 629. Fixt in cogitation deep.
1727. Swift, Gulliver, III. ii. 184. He is always so wrapped up in cogitation.
1870. Jevons, Elem. Logic, xxvii. 229. The mind of its own power alone could, by sufficient cogitation, discover [etc.].
b. The faculty of thinking or thought.
1557. N. T. (Genev.), Ephes. iv. 18. Having their cogitation darkened.
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 427. The sight is in the eyes … vnderstanding and cogitation in the braine.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 271. Cogitation Resides not in that man, that do’s not thinke.
1685. Boyle, Enq. Notion Nat., 368. The Mechanical Philosophers, that deny Cogitation, and even Sense properly so call’d, to Beasts.
1759. Johnson, Rasselas, xlvii. It was never supposed that cogitation is inherent in matter.
1838. Sir W. Hamilton, Logic, xxxi. (1866), II. 141. Speech and cogitation are thus the relative conditions of each other’s activity.
2. An act of thinking or consideration, a thought or reflection. (with plural).
a. 1225. [see 1].
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 7 b. That your fasting may come of pure hert without eny euill cogitacions.
c. 1555. Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII. (1878), 259. Such as have filthy corrupt cogitations in their hearts.
1628. Hobbes, Thucyd., I. (1629), 70. Being terrified with the cogitation, that not any of those which had been formerly sent, had euer returned.
1673. Dryden, Marr. à la Mode, III. i. 32. Prethee leave me to my own cogitations; I am thinking over all my sins, to find for which of them it was I marry’d thee.
1718. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., xlix. II. 56. I spent several hours here in … agreeable cogitations.
1814. Wordsw., Excursion, V. 474. Our cogitations this way have been drawn, These are the points … on which Our inquest turns.
b. ‘Reflection previous to action’ (J.); a purpose or design.
1538. Starkey, England, I. ii. 66. Hyt [the common weal] schold be the end of al theyr cogytatyonys, conseylys, and carys.
1576. Fleming, Panoplie Ep., 4. The cogitations and purposes of your adversaries shall quite be dissolved.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 136 (J.). The King perceiuing therby, that his Desires were intemperate, and his Cogitations vaste, and irregular … began not to brooke him well.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath. (1839), 642. The wicked cogitations, and designs of the adversaries.
3. With of: † a. Thinking of or about, consideration of anything). Obs. b. A thought, conception, or idea of an object.
1542. Brinklow, Compl., i. (1874), 7. Wherby mennys hartes be rauysshed … from the cogytacyon of all such things as thei ought to pray for.
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 545. If the Spirite entreth into a cogitation of it owne death.
1626. Bacon, Sylva (1677), § 717. This knitting of the Brows will follow upon earnest Studying, or Cogitation of anything.
1645. Ussher, Body Div. (1647), 39. Idolatrous cogitations of God.
1830. Mackintosh, Eth. Philos., Wks. 1846, I. 77. If we reflect on our own Cogitations of these things.
