Lewis & Short

contemplātĭo, ōnis, f. [contemplor], an attentive considering, a viewing, surveying, contemplation (in good prose).

  1. I. Physical.
    1. A. In gen.: caeli, Cic. Div. 1, 42, 93: injecit contemplationem super umeros, cast a look over, Petr. 12, 4.
    2. B. In partic., an aiming with a weapon, a taking aim: sagittis praecipuā contemplatione utantur, Plin. 6, 30, 35, § 194; cf. contemplabilis.
  2. II. Mental.
    1. A. In gen., a contemplation, survey: est animorum ingeniorumque naturale quoddam quasi pabulum consideratio contemplatioque naturae, Cic. Ac. 2, 41, 127: rerum naturae, Cels. 1 praef.: ipsius naturae, Quint. 3, 6, 86; in plur.: naturae, Gell. 20, 5, 3: recti pravique, Quint. 2, 4, 20: veri, id. 6, 2, 5: iniqui, id. 12, 1, 35: rerum, scripti, id. 3, 6, 89: sui, id. 2, 18, 4: virtutum, Tac. Agr. 46: publicae felicitatis, Curt. 10, 9, 7: summa vis infinitatis et magnā ac diligenti contemplatione dignissima est, Cic. N. D. 1, 19, 50; so absol., id. ib. 1, 12, 18; Plin. Ep. 2, 1, 12.
      Hence,
    2. B. In partic., a consideration, regard (mostly late Lat.; freq. in the jurists): liberorum, Just. 7, 5, 7: justitiae ejus, id. 8, 3, 14: personarum, Dig. 2, 15, 8; 3, 5, 5; 18, 1, 58; Inscr. Orell. 3161 et saep.: contemplatione mortis donatio facta, = mortis causā, Paul. Sent. 2, 23, 6.