lucubrate

lucubrate [ˈlukyʊˌbreɪt] v. i.

1.) Literally, To work by artificial light. In mod. use, to produce ‘lucubrations’, discourse learnedly in writing.

lucubrate v. t.

1.) To produce (literary compositions) by laborious study (O.E.D. 2nd Ed.).

Etymology: From Late lūcubrāt-, participial stem of lūcubrāre, from lūc-, lūx light.

"'England! with all thy faults I love thee still,'
I said at Calais, and have not forgot it;
I like to speak and lucubrate my fill;
I like the government (but that is not it);
I like the freedom of the press and quill;
I like the Hapeas Corpus (when we've got it);
I like a parliamentary debate,
Particularly when 'tis not too late;

I like the taxes, when they're not too many;
I like a seacoal fire, when not too dear;
I like a beef-steak, too, as well as any;
Have no objection to a pot of beer;
I like the weather, when it is not rainy,
That is, I like two months of every year,
And so God save the Regent, Church, and King!
Which means that I like all and everything" (Beppo, George Byron, 1817).

(Two Scholars Debating, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1628)