n. Expectation. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Expected; p. pr. & vb. n. Expecting. ] [ L. expectatum, to look out for, await, expect; ex + out spectare to look at. See Spectacle. ] 1. To wait for; to await. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Let's in, and there expect their coming. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To wait; to stay. [ Obs. ] Sandys. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. expectabilis. ] That may be expected or looked for. Sir T. Browne.

{ } n. 1. The act of expecting; expectation. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is expected, or looked or waited for with interest; the object of expectation or hope. [ 1913 Webster ]

The expectancy and rose of the fair state. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who waits in expectation; one held in dependence by hope of receiving some good. [ 1913 Webster ]

An expectant of future glory. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those who had employments, or were expectants. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Expectant estate (Law), an estate in expectancy. See under Expectancy. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>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. [ 1913 Webster ]

My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from him. Ps. lxii. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is expected or looked for. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why our great expectation should be called
The seed of woman. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The prospect of the future; grounds upon which something excellent is expected to happen; prospect of anything good to come, esp. of property or rank. [ 1913 Webster ]

His magnificent expectations made him, in the opinion of the world, the best match in Europe. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

By all men's eyes a youth of expectation. Otway. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The value of any chance (as the prospect of prize or property) which depends upon some contingent event. Expectations are computed for or against the occurrence of the event. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Med.) The leaving of the disease principally to the efforts of nature to effect a cure. [ 1913 Webster ]

Expectation of life, the mean or average duration of the life individuals after any specified age.

Syn. -- Anticipation; confidence; trust. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. expectative, fr. expectatif expectant. ] Something in expectation; esp., an expectative grace. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. expectatif. ] Constituting an object of expectation; contingent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Expectative grace, a mandate given by the pope or a prince appointing a successor to any benefice before it becomes vacant. Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]