Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Expect
Ex-pect′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Expected
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Expecting
.] 1.
To wait for; to await.
[Obs.]
Let’s in, and there
expect
their coming. Shakespeare
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);
“Good: I will expect you.” as, I
. expect
to receive wages; I expect
that the troops will be defeatedShak.
“Expecting thy reply.” Shak.
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
. 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 expect
the mail has arrived; I expect
he is at homeAnticipate
. Ex-pect′
,Verb.
T.
To wait; to stay.
[Obs.]
Sandys.
Ex-pect′
,Noun.
Expectation.
[Obs.]
Shak.
Webster 1828 Edition
Expect
EXPECT'
,Verb.
T.
1.
To wait for.The guards,
By me encamp'd on yonder hill, expect
Their motion.
[This sense, though often used by Gibbon, seems to be obsolescent.]
2.
To look for; to have a previous apprehension of something future, whether good or evil; to entertain at least a slight belief that an event will happen. We expect a visit that has been promised. We expect money will be paid at the time it is due, though we are often disappointed.Expect, in its legitimate sense, always refers to a future event. The common phrase, I expect it was, is a vulgar as it is improper.