metacogitate means to think about thought itself. It carries an Arena rating of 1362, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, metacogitate ranks #1,275 of 17,163 for Funniest Words, #1,309 of 17,138 for Most Incisive Words, #1,950 of 17,126 for Most Satisfying to Say, #4,040 of 17,140 for Most Whimsical Words.
Why “metacogitate” is a great word
To analyze the process, patterns, or mechanisms of one's own thinking. From meta- (in the sense of 'about' or 'transcending') + cogitate (from Latin cōgitāre, 'to think, ponder'). Unlike "cogitate," which is to think deeply about any subject, or "introspect," which is to examine one's feelings or internal state, "metacogitate" narrows its focus to the theater of cognition itself. It is the mind constructing a map of its own labyrinth, the deliberate observation of how one's thoughts circle and form, or the strange recursive sensation of wondering why you are wondering about something—the peculiar, sometimes paralyzing, luxury of consciousness turning its light back upon its source, as if the mind could cup its own breath and call it understanding.
Etymology
From meta- + cogitate.
verb
- To think about thought itself
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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