1. To wait for; to await. [Obs.]
Let's in, and there expect their coming.
Shak. 2. To look for (mentally); to look forward to, as to something that is believed to be about to happen or
come; to have a previous apprehension of, whether of good or evil; to look for with some confidence; to
anticipate; — often followed by an infinitive, sometimes by a clause (with, or without, that); as, I expect
to receive wages; I expect that the troops will be defeated. "Good: I will expect you." Shak. "Expecting
thy reply." Shak.
The Somersetshire or yellow regiment . . . was expected to arrive on the following day.
Macaulay. Syn. — To anticipate; look for; await; hope. — To Expect, Think, Believe, Await. Expect is a mental
act and has aways a reference to the future, to some coming event; as a person expects to die, or he
expects to survive. 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 came home yesterday, that he is he is at home now. There
is a not uncommon use of expect, which is a confusion of the two; as, I expect the mail has arrived; I
expect he is at home. This misuse should be avoided. Await is a physical or moral act. We await that
which, when it comes, will affect us personally. We expect what may, or may not, interest us personally.
See Anticipate.
Expect
(Ex*pect"), v. t. To wait; to stay. [Obs.] Sandys.
Expect
(Ex*pect"), n. Expectation. [Obs.] Shak.
Expectable
(Ex*pect"a*ble) a. [L. expectabilis.] That may be expected or looked for. Sir T. Browne.
Expectance
(Ex*pect"ance Ex*pect"an*cy) n.
1. The act of expecting ; expectation. Milton.
2. That which is expected, or looked or waited for with interest; the object of expectation or hope.
The expectancy and rose of the fair state.
Shak. Estate in expectancy (Law), one the possession of which a person is entitled to have at some future
time, either as a remainder or reversion, or on the death of some one. Burrill.
Expectant
(Ex*pect"ant) a. [L. expectans, exspectans, p. pr. of expectare, exspectare: cf. F. expectant.]
Waiting in expectation; looking for; (Med.) waiting for the efforts of nature, with little active treatment.
Expectant estate (Law), an estate in expectancy. See under Expectancy.
Expectant
(Ex*pect"ant), n. One who waits in expectation; one held in dependence by hope of receiving
some good.
An expectant of future glory.
South.
Those who had employments, or were expectants.
Swift. Expectation
(Ex`pec*ta"tion) n. [L. expectio. exspectio: cf. F. expectation.]
1. The act or state of expecting or looking forward to an event as about to happen. "In expectation of a
guest." Tennyson.
My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from him.
Ps. lxii. 5.
