Hope, v. t.
1. To desire with expectation or with belief in the possibility or prospect of obtaining; to look forward to as a thing desirable, with the expectation of obtaining it; to cherish hopes of. We hope no other from your majesty. Shak. [Charity] hopeth all things. 1 Cor. xiii. 7.
2. To expect; to fear. [Obs.] "I hope he will be dead." Chaucer.
Note: Hope is often used colloquially regarding uncertainties, with no reference to the future. "I hope she takes me to be flesh and blood." Mrs. Centlivre.
3 other Webster entries under this spelling
Hope, n.
1. A sloping plain between mountain ridges. [Obs.]
2. A small bay; an inlet; a haven. [Scot.] Jamieson.
Hope, n.
1. A desire of some good, accompanied with an expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable; an expectation of something which is thought to be desirable; confidence; pleasing expectancy. The hypocrite's hope shall perish. Job vii. 13. He wished, but not with hope. Milton. New thoughts of God, new hopes of Heaven. Keble.
2. One who, or that which, gives hope, furnishes ground of expectation, or promises desired good. The Lord will be the hope of his people. Joel iii. 16. A young gentleman of great hopes, whose love of learning was highly commendable. Macaulay.
3. That which is hoped for; an object of hope. Lavina is thine elder brother's hope. Shak.
Hope, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hoped; p. pr. & vb. n. Hoping.]
1. To entertain or indulge hope; to cherish a desire of good, or of something welcome, with expectation of obtaining it or belief that it is obtainable; to expect; -- usually followed by for. "Hope for good success." Jer. Taylor. But I will hope continually. Ps. lxxi. 14.
2. To place confidence; to trust with confident expectation of good; -- usually followed by in. "I hope in thy word." Ps. cxix. 81. Why art thou cast down, O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God. Ps. xlii. 11.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for hope; he lists it under anticipate, anticipation.
Where he writes about it:
We hope for that which we much desire and somewhat expect. — 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