To think something out thoroughly; to invent, devise, or work out something through careful thought.
From Latin 'excogitare' (to think out), composed of 'ex-' (thoroughly) + 'cogitare' (to think). The verb describes intense mental work rather than casual thinking.
Unlike 'cogitate' (ordinary thinking), 'excogitate' means thinking with a purpose—to invent or figure something out—which is why it was popular among Renaissance scholars who saw thinking as an active tool for creating knowledge.
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