Expect, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expected; p. pr. & vb. n. Expecting.]
Etymology: [L. expectatum, to look out for, await, expect; ex + out spectare to look at. See Spectacle.]
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.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Expect, v. t.
To wait; to stay. [Obs.] Sandys.
Expect, n.
Expectation. [Obs.] Shak.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for expect; he lists it under abide, anticipate.
Where he writes about it:
We expect that which we have good reason to believe will happen; as, a boy expects to grow to manhood. — from anticipate
We hope for that which we much desire and somewhat expect. — from anticipate
We apprehend what we both expect and fear. — from anticipate
Anticipate is commonly used now, like foretaste, of that which we expect both with confidence and pleasure. — from anticipate
In this use it is a stronger word than hope, where often "the wish is father to the thought." I hope for a visit from my friend, tho I have no word from him; I expect it when he writes that he is coming; and as the time draws near I anticipate it with pleasure. — from anticipate