p. pr. ex + out spectare to look at. See
Spectacle.) 1. To wait for; to
await. (Obs.)
Lets 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 , v. t. To wait; tostay. (Obs.) Sandys.
expect , n. Expectation.(Obs.) Shak.
