2 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Expect \Ex*pect"\, 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.]
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.
Usage: 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}.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
expected
adj 1: considered likely or probable to happen or arrive; "prepared
for the expected attack" [ant: {unexpected}]
2: looked forward to as probable
3: expected to become or be; in prospect; "potential clients";
"expected income" [syn: {likely}, {potential}]