speculated
v. B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈspɛkjəˌɫeɪtɪd// UK //spˈɛkjʊlˌeɪtɪd// spec·u·lat·ed
v. to guess about something without having all the facts. You use this when you are thinking about what might happen or what might be true.
v. to form a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence. Often used with 'on', 'about', or followed by a 'that' clause.
Investors speculated that the stock price would rise soon.
The media speculated about the cause of the accident before the official report was released.
While historians have long speculated on the true origins of the manuscript, recent carbon dating has provided the first concrete evidence to support their theories.
Usage
The verb is often intransitive when followed by a prepositional phrase ('speculate on'), but can be transitive when followed by a 'that' clause.