excogitate

Verb

• reflect deeply on a subject
  • I mulled over the events of the afternoon
    
  • philosophers have speculated on the question of God for thousands of years
    
  • The scientist must stop to observe and start to excogitate
    

• come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
  • excogitate a way to measure the speed of light
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  invent , contrive , devise , formulate , forge