Changes in Meanings of Words speculation, speculator, and speculate

Abstract

The article delves into a comprehensive examination of the meanings associated with the words speculation, speculator and speculate. Its primary objective is to discern shifts in the meanings of these words by drawing from general (explanatory) and special dictionaries alongside contemporary usage of the Lithuanian written language. The discussion within the article explores the breadth and variations of meanings attributed to these words across Lithuanian, English, and Russian dictionaries. It further examines insights derived from the current usage trends in the Lithuanian written language while also offering conjectures about the reasons for the emergence of new meanings.