expect etymology

Etymology:

  • Middle English: expecten, from Anglo-Norman French expecten, from Latin exspectare, from ex- ("out") + *spectare ("to look")

Meaning:

  • To anticipate the occurrence of (something)
  • To await the arrival or presence of (someone or something)
  • To have a particular hope or expectation for (someone or something)

Origin:

The word "expect" ultimately derives from the Latin verb "exspectare," which literally means "to look out for." This verb is formed from the prefix "ex-" (meaning "out") and the verb "spectare" (meaning "to look").

The prefix "ex-" indicates that the action of looking is being directed outward, away from the subject. The verb "spectare" is derived from the Indo-European root *spek-, meaning "to see." This root is also found in the English words "spy," "spectrum," and "spectacle."

The original meaning of "exspectare" was to keep a lookout for something or someone. Over time, the meaning of the word shifted to include the idea of anticipation or waiting. By the Middle Ages, "expect" had come to mean "to anticipate the occurrence of something."

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  • guess

    Etymology refers to the study of the origin and development of words It involves tracing