Ex-pĕct’1, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. EXPECTED; p. pr. & vb. n. EXPECTING.] [Lat. expectare, exspectare, to look out carefully and eagerly, to look out for, to await, expect, from ex, out of, from, and spectare, to look at, v. intens. from specere, to look, look at; It. espettare, aspettare.]
Sense 1. To wait for; to await. “Expecting the approaching even.” Chapman.
The guards, By me encamped on yonder hill, expect Their motion. Milton.
Sense 2. To look forward to, as to something that is believed to be about to happen or come; to have a previous apprehension of something future, whether good or evil; to look for with some confidence; to anticipate.
“’Tis more than we deserve, or I expect.” Shak.
Synonyms—To anticipate; look for; await; hope.—To EXPECT, THINK, BELIEVE. Expect has always a reference to the future. It may be used either seriously or familiarly; as, a person expects to die, or he expects to survive; but in either case, it always has reference to a coming event. Think and believe have reference to the past and present, as well as to the future; as, I think the mail has arrived; I believe he is at home. We have, in this country, a very common use of expect, which is a confusion of the two; as, I expect the mail has arrived; I expect he is at home. This blunder, which is far too common among even educated persons, ought to be studiously avoided by every one. See ANTICIPATE.