excogitate

1 of 2

verb

ex·​cog·​i·​tate ek-ˈskä-jə-ˌtāt 

excogitated; excogitating; excogitates

transitive verb

: to think out : devise

I wouldn't … expose you to the inconvenience of having to … excogitate an answer.

—Henry James

excogitation

(ˌ)ek-ˌskä-jə-ˈtā-shən 

noun

excogitative

ek-ˈskä-jə-ˌtā-tiv 

adjective

excogitation

2 of 2

noun

ex·​cog·​i·​ta·​tion

1

: the act of excogitating

2

: a product of mental analysis and invention : something thought out or up : contrivance

Synonyms of excogitate

Verb

• devise
• concoct
• construct
• invent

Examples of excogitate in a Sentence

Verb

she's a master at excogitating reasons not to do her assigned work

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin excogitatus, past participle of excogitare, from ex- + cogitare to cogitate

Noun

Latin excogitation-, excogitatio, from excogitatus (past participle of excogitare) + -ion-, -io -ion

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for excogitate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate