expectv.

Brit.

/ᵻkˈspɛkt/,

/ɛkˈspɛkt/, U.S.

/ᵻkˈspɛk(t)/,

/ɛkˈspɛk(t)/

Forms: 1500s exspecte, 1500s–1600s expecte, 1500s–1700s exspect, 1500s– expect, 1600s axpact, 1600s expeckt; also Scottish 1800s expec, 1800s– expeck; Irish English 1800s expict. See also spect v.²

Origin: A borrowing from Latin. Etymon: Latin exspectāre.

Etymology: < classical Latin exspectāre, expectāre to wait for, to regard (something) as about to happen, to look forward to, hope for, to wait in expectation < ex- ex- prefix¹ + spectāre spectate v. Compare Old French especter , Middle French (rare) expecter to wait for (something), to await (something) (c1310 in two isolated attestations, subsequently in a small number of examples from the second half of the 15th to the first half of the 16th cent.), Old Occitan espectar . Compare earlier expectation n., expectative adj.

I. Senses relating to anticipating.

1. To regard as probable or imminent; to envisage; to anticipate.

a. transitive. With simple object.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expect [verb (transitive)]

weenOE

weenc1000

thinklOE

lookc1225

hopec1330

trusta1387

wait onc1390

supposea1393

to wait after ——1393

to look after ——c1400

thinkc1480

attend1483

suppone1490

expect1535

to expect for1538

aspect1548

respect1549

look1560

ween1589

attend1591

propose1594

await1608

to presume on, upon, or of1608

to look forwards1637

prospect1652

to look for ——a1677

augur1678

anticipate1749

to look to ——1782

spect1839

contemplate1841–8

to look forward1848

eye1979

1535 King Henry VIII Let. in State Papers Henry VIII (1834) II. 291 Setting order, redresse, and refourmacyon.., with that diligence and dexteryte, as We may see the successe to folowe of your frutes and doinges, that We daylie expecte.

1605 Bp. J. Hall Medit. & Vowes I. §9 I will expect the woorst, because it may come the best, because I know it will come.

1701 D. Defoe True-born Englishman Pref. I expect a Storm of Ill Language.

1720 W. R. Chetwood Voy. Capt. R. Falconer ii. 38 Finding we could not expect his Life, we pray'd for a speedy and a painless Release from it.

1801 M. Edgeworth Forester in Moral Tales I. 128 They expected a visit in a few hours.

1866 ‘G. Eliot’ Felix Holt I. i. 47 I am afraid of ever expecting anything good again.

1891 Speaker 2 May 533/1 The book is very much what might have been expected from the author.

1919 A. R. Wylie All Sorts vii. 208 Our men have had three days and nights of it. They're hanging on like bulldogs. But we can't expect miracles.

1954 C. P. Snow New Men vi. 101 One of those counters whose ticking I had come to expect in any Barford laboratory.

1985 J. Morris Last Lett. from Hav vii. 61 You seem surprised. I am not what you expected? Tell me frankly, what did you expect?

2013 Wall St. Jrnl. 7 Dec. a2/3 Another bout of freezing rain was expected Saturday.

b. transitive. With clause as object.Also in passive with anticipatory it.

ΚΠ

1536 in State Papers Henry VIII (1834) II. 337 Irishmen ben, at this season, in such an extreme feare..; expecting daily either that Your Grace will exile theym, or compell theym to a due obedience.

1580 J. Stow Chrons. of Eng. 965 Euery m[a]n expected the iudgement would be giuen the next day.

1603 Sir D. Carleton Let. 28 June in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) III. ccxlv. 82 It is expected the two courts being joyned will produce somewhat extraordinary.

1650 R. Stapleton in tr. F. Strada De Bello Belgico To Rdr. sig. A2 A History of mine, which I cannot exspect should be either praised or pardoned.

1726 W. R. Chetwood Voy. & Adventures Capt. R. Boyle 74 They did not expect she could ever recover.

1757 E. Burr Jrnl. 2 Sept. in New Eng. Q. (1930) 3 314 Mr Burr is expecting that she will prove a numbhead.

1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xi. 79 The Mur..was by no means so bad as we had expected.

1879 Scribner's Monthly Feb. 469/2 They say she has..given herself away to some one else, when I really expected she would reserve herself for me.

1910 Daily Chron. 22 Mar. 1/3 It is expected that a devastating strike will be declared.

2000 Times 17 Nov. 26/5 By the end of the year, the society expects that it will have paid out £1.4 billion to its members in mutual benefits.

c. transitive. With object and infinitive, or with infinitive alone.

ΚΠ

1538 in State Papers Henry VIII (1834) II. 71 Thei be expecting to have helpe oute of Scotlande, as they saie.

1656 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival Hist. Iron Age i. iv. xxvi. 148 The Imperial Garrisons, who were not expected to be ever seen again in those parts.

1660 T. Willsford Scales Commerce & Trade 182 A Captain of a Castle expecting to be beleagured, makes good his outworks.

1710 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1889) III. 6 I expect to receive them this week.

1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 182 They expected us, and we expected to come.

1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India I. ii. vi. 226 He expected to perform to him one of the most agreeable of all possible services.

1876 W. S. Jevons Logic 9 Seeing a bright flash of lightning, I expect thunder to follow.

1976 M. Birmingham Heat of Sun ii. 21 I..turned my head, half expecting to be able to see over the seat-back.

2012 Daily Tel. 20 Oct. 6/2 Unions were expecting hundreds of thousands of people..to march through London in the protest.

2. intransitive. to expect for: to regard as likely or certain to be forthcoming; to anticipate; = sense 1a. Also with indirect object and infinitive (cf. sense 1c).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expect [verb (transitive)]

weenOE

weenc1000

thinklOE

lookc1225

hopec1330

trusta1387

wait onc1390

supposea1393

to wait after ——1393

to look after ——c1400

thinkc1480

attend1483

suppone1490

expect1535

to expect for1538

aspect1548

respect1549

look1560

ween1589

attend1591

propose1594

await1608

to presume on, upon, or of1608

to look forwards1637

prospect1652

to look for ——a1677

augur1678

anticipate1749

to look to ——1782

spect1839

contemplate1841–8

to look forward1848

eye1979

1538 in State Papers Henry VIII (1834) II. 1 I perceyve it nedith not me to expecte for any his better favours, but rather the increace of dayly wronges.

1591 J. Harington Briefe Apol. Poetrie in tr. L. Ariosto Orlando Furioso sig. ¶ij^v A Sophister..made a long..Oration..expecting at the end thereof for some great thanks.

1656 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival Hist. Iron Age ii. ii. xv. 270 A peace, for which so many people long, and earnestly expect.

1795 Proc. Old Bailey 16 Sept. 1114/1 You rascal, how can you expect for mercy.

1889 ‘Lady of Louisiana’ Clip her Wing xxii. 290 I told mother ladies like you never smoke, and how could she expect for you to send her any?

1915 A. R. Harding Fur Buyers' Guide v. 78 I don't see how we can expect for anything better.

1995 Peace! Mar. 15/3 Next time out expect for The Roots [sc. a hip-hop group] to flip the script over different beats.

a. transitive. To require (something) in fulfilment of a justifiable or reasonable expectation; to require (an anticipated action or thing) from or of a person.

ΚΠ

1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello Certaine Tragicall Disc. f. 28^v No lesse dutifull and continuall seruice.., then you expect of the moste drudge and slaue that foloweth your traine.

1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 184 These Negroes..impart freely of what they haue to any ciuill Traueller, expecting some small retribution for their curtesie.

1690 J. Dryden Amphitryon Ep. Ded. sig. Aii There is a Pride of doing more than is expected from us.

1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. vi. 106 The Unhappy, from whom can be expected no Returns either of present Entertainment or future Service.

1811 Balance & State Jrnl. 23 July 237/1 From your superior advantages, think what is expected of you. Can you bear to blast these our just expectations?

1889 Friends' Intelligencer & Jrnl. 2 Nov. 695/1 The Creator has implanted in us a desire to help our fellow-creatures without expecting reward either here or hereafter.

1890 W. Besant Demoniac v. 55 The crew won't expect any drink.

1968 H. S. Thompson Let. 8 Feb. in Fear & Loathing in Amer. (2000) 35 The coat is far below the standards I've come to expect from quality mail-order suppliers.

2008 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 3 Apr. 14/2 The big landlords..expect electoral loyalty from their tenants.

b. transitive. To require (a person or thing) to do something in fulfilment of an obligation or expectation. Also with that-clause as object (sometimes in passive with anticipatory it).

ΚΠ

1578 J. Banister Hist. Man i. f. 14 (margin) It will be expected that I omitte nothing, since I haue promised y^e whole History of man.

1650 O. Cromwell Let. 25 Dec. in Writings & Speeches (1939) (modernized text) II. viii. 378 I expect it be encouraged.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 115. ¶5 Providence furnishes Materials, but expects that we should work them up our selves.

1759 O. Goldsmith Misc. Wks. (1837) III. 246 Leibnitz..being very erroneous himself, cannot be expected to have bequeathed precision to his followers.

1805 Ld. Nelson in R. Southey Life Nelson (1813) ix. 357 Nelson's last signal—‘England expects that every man will do his duty!’

1872 J. Morley Voltaire iii. 127 Nor can we be expected to be deeply moved by a form of art that is so unfamiliar to us.

1926 J. Devanny Butcher Shop xxiii. 294 You have a husband, home and children. I've got nothing, and yet you expect me to live the life of an anchorite.

1992 H. Robertson On Hill: People's Guide to Canada's Parl. 87 An MP is expected to be loyal to his party through thick and thin and to vote in the Commons according to party policy.

2006 Church Times 24 Mar. 14/5 Choir members are expected to promote their own concerts, possibly to sell tickets.

c. transitive. Of a thing, situation, or condition: to call for, need. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > necessity > condition of being necessary > need or want > need [verb (transitive)] > require or demand

askOE

willa1225

requirec1425

crave1576

desire1577

exact1592

solicit1592

wish1600

postulate1605

expect1615

to look after ——a1616

seek1656

demand1748

1615 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. III. xi. 319 This charge, by how much more sacred it is, so much more attendance it expecteth.

1687 J. Boyse in Thoresby's Corr. (1832) I. 93 One assertion in it I could not but think expected greater evidence.

1691 T. Hale Acct. New Inventions 29 To order the doing of that now, which the Practice of the Navy..would have expected their having done long since.

1776 W. Mason Eng. Garden ii. 19 The path That leads to all these charms expects defence.

1941 Educ. Res. Bull. 20 125 The obligation to do our part along with others in finding out what the situation expects of us.

†4. transitive. To look forward to as a goal or motive. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > intention > intend [verb (transitive)] > have as purpose or object

followeOE

studylOE

turna1200

pursuea1382

purposec1384

to shoot atc1407

ensue1483

proponea1500

studyc1503

prick1545

tread1551

suit1560

to go for ——1568

to set (up) one's rest1572

expect1578

propose1584

propound1596

aima1616

scope1668

to set up1691

aim1821

to go in for1835

to be out for1887

to be flat out for1930

target1966

shoot1967

1578 T. Nicholas tr. F. Lopez de Gómara Pleasant Hist. Conquest W. India 24 Good men doe rather expect [Sp. stimano] renowne, then treasure.

5. transitive. With clause as object: to suppose, surmise; to be inclined to think, to imagine.Use in this sense was often objected to in the 19th cent., and N.E.D (1894) notes: ‘Now rare in literary use. The misuse of the word as a synonym of suppose, without any notion of ‘anticipating’ or ‘looking for’, is often cited as an Americanism, but is very common in dialectal, vulgar or carelessly colloquial speech in England.’ However, H. W. Fowler Mod. Eng. Usage (1926) 159/1 states: ‘This extension of meaning is..so natural that it seems needless purism to resist it’, and it is now common, especially in spoken use.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > supposition, surmise > suppose, surmise [verb (transitive)]

ween971

readOE

aweena1275

guessc1380

supposec1384

seemc1386

imaginec1405

presupposec1443

deem1470

surmise1509

suspectc1550

doubt1568

expect1592

s'pose1632

fancy1672

sus1958

1592 H. Unton Let. 15 Mar. in Corr. (1847) 382 It is expected that the Duke of Guiese's horse was shott under him.

1645 King Charles I Let. in Kings Cabinet Opened 10 I..expect they [sc. the forces] are much stronger than I am made beleeve.

1763 T. Jefferson Corr. in Wks. (1859) I. 186 I say has been, because I expect there is one [sc. an opening] no longer.

1856 A. Money & G. H. Money Sevastopol ii. xiv. 385 I expect my friend was a paragon of sanctity.

1861 G. W. Dasent tr. Story Burnt Njal I. Pref. p. viii It is an old saying, that a story never loses in telling, and so we may expect it must have been with this story.

1887 Belgravia 63 119 ‘He had taken his degree.’.. ‘Well, it was an ægrotat or something of that sort, I expect.’

1912 F. Swinnerton Happy Family iv. 132 I don't expect they noticed that Purfew only uses Saxon words.

1944 J. R. R. Tolkien Let. 18 Apr. (1995) 72 I sent as Delphic an oracular reply as I could, giving the adjt. a good deal more facts, I expect, than he wanted.

1996 Daily Tel. 28 Feb. 20/1 I expect that in the 17th century, as now, grooms turned up in church hungover from their stag nights.

6. transitive. To foresee or look forward to the arrival of (a person, esp. a guest).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > foresee or foreknow [verb (transitive)]

fore-witc888

foreseec1000

foreshowc1000

seea1200

forelook1340

purvey1340

before-knowa1425

providea1450

previdec1475

provisec1475

foreknow1530

expect1595

previse1597

preview1607

precognize1612

prospect1652

fore-viewa1711

prevision1868

presee1890

1595 V. Saviolo Practise i. sig. M2 God be your guide, and to morrow I will expecte you.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) i. ii. 293 Cassi. Will you Dine with me to morrow? Cask. I. Cassi. Good, I will expect you.

1713 J. Addison Cato i. iii Every instant I expect him here.

1771 Favourite I. 60 As my lady and Miss Grey expected him on the following morning, they were violently dressed.

1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xxiv. 207 I shall expect you at half-past five.

1891 L. B. Walford Mischief of Monica xiv.148 She was expecting guests from the North.

1948 E. Pargeter By Firelight v. 95 ‘I didn't expect you tonight.’ ‘Or want me,’ said Charles without resentment. ‘I'll go.’

2004 C. Connelly Attention All Shipping (2005) 207 When I presented myself at reception it turned out they weren't expecting me at all.

7. intransitive. To indulge oneself in expectation; to foresee something; to require something.Frequently in conjunction with and echoing the sense of transitive constructions of expect.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expect [verb (intransitive)]

hope1303

think1484

expect1779

1779 S. Johnson Butler in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets II. 24 We love to expect; and when expectation is disappointed or gratified, we want to be again expecting.

1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess iii. 56 Our king expects—was there no precontract.

1862 H. W. Beecher Royal Truths 29 He walks a perpetual self-adulator, expecting until experience has taught him not to expect.

1968 R. Sukenick Up 136 ‘You're not a young man any more. What can you expect?’ ‘I don't expect. I know.’

2005 J. Angel Hist. Vegas 110 I stopped expecting her to care, and as soon as I stopped expecting, she stopped caring.

a. transitive. Of a woman or a couple: to have the birth of (a child) in prospect; to have (a baby) on the way. Chiefly in progressive tenses. Cf. expectant adj. 1b.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > pregnancy or gestation > carry in womb [verb (transitive)]

bearOE

breedc1000

enfaunt1483

carry1561

enwomba1616

expect1800

gestate1866

the world > animals > animal body > general parts > sexual organs and reproduction > [verb (transitive)] > be pregnant

expect1800

1800 Lady's Monthly Museum Feb. 108 Nothing..would have prevented me from actual violence, in his fits of rage, but fear of endangering the life of the infant I then expected.

1869 Friends' Intelligencer 24 Apr. 126/2 John came to see us at Whitsuntide, and said his wife was expecting a baby.

1906 E. F. Benson Paul xvii. 249 Mrs. Beckwith, you know, expects a baby soon.

1940 W. Faulkner Hamlet iv. i. 277 I mind when me and Mrs. Varner was expecting Eula.

2007 E. Flint Legal Careers 71 When we were expecting our second child, I looked for ways to reduce my working hours.

b. intransitive. colloquial. To have the birth of one's child in prospect. In later use chiefly: to be pregnant. Now usually in progressive tenses.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > pregnancy or gestation > be pregnant [verb (intransitive)]

goOE

to go with childc1300

baga1400

gravidate1623

breed1629

(to be) in an interesting condition1748

gestate1883

expect1906

infanticipate1934

1803 T. Twining Let. 13–14 Oct. (1991) II. 659 The Cow is with calf. She expects (so human ladies, I think, express themselves on such occasions) at Christmas.

1817 J. Austen Let. 25 Mar. (1995) 337 She expects much about this day three weeks, & is generally very exact.

1906 J. Galsworthy Man of Prop. i. vi. 82 Whether young Roger's wife was really—expecting.

1946 Billboard 4 May 108/2 Joe's wife, Ann, is expecting at any moment.

1957 R. Longrigg Switchboard 208 ‘Make him do a Charleston.’ ‘Have a heart,’ said Sue. ‘I'm expecting.’

2006 Reveal (Special Sample Issue) 23 Sept. 25/3 Sandra was expecting again.

†9. transitive (in passive). Irish English. Of a person: to be expected to live. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1814 M. Edgeworth Patronage II. xv. 22 Sure I tould you he was not expicted,—that is, if you don't know in England, not expicted to live.

1845 A. M. Hall Whiteboy I. v. 95 Poor Mrs. Macarthy..isn't expected—indeed I must ride hard to overtake her.

II. Senses relating to waiting.

†10. transitive. To wait for, await; to bide time or defer action until (a particular event or moment). Obsolete.In later use showing the influence of sense 1a.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expectation, waiting > wait for, await [verb (transitive)]

bidec950

keepc1000

abideOE

i-kepe?c1225

lookc1225

bidea1300

sustainc1350

await1393

remainc1455

tarry?a1475

attenda1513

expect1536

to stay on1540

watch1578

remain1585

staya1586

to stay for ——1602

tend1604

to bide upona1616

behold1642

prestolate1653

expecta1664

wait1746

1536 in State Papers Henry VIII (1834) II. 349 The Deputy advaunced tharmye..to the border of Casshell; and ther encampyng in the felde thre dayes, expectyng the cummyng unto us of the said James of Desmonde.

1585 Abp. E. Sandys Serm. xiv. 239 Note in Cornelius with what humanitie..hee receiued Peter..he called to him his kinsemen and friends and expected him.

1610 Bible (Douay) II. Ecclus. xi. comm. Expect the end of an other mans speach, before you beginne to answer.

1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts ii. 223 Yee..eate your owne good cheere, not expecting your poorer brethren.

1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 202. ⁋5 There was a great crowd in my Antichamber, who expected Audience.

1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall II. xviii. 92 The..king of the Goths, instead of expecting the attack of the Legions, boldly passed the Danube.

1801 R. Southey Thalaba II. ix. 153 With tranquil eyes and talons sheathed The ounce expects his liberty.

1838 Edinb. Rev. Oct. 94/1 The result of the general election had been decidedly unfavourable to the Government; and Shaftesbury impatiently expected the day when the Houses were to meet.

1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola I. xix. 214 Romola stood below.., expecting the moment when her godfather would appear, on his way to execution.

11.

a. intransitive. To wait; to allow the passage of time; to take no action until a particular time or event. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > delay or postponement > delay [verb (intransitive)] > defer action until something happens

to wait one's (or the) time, hour, opportunity, etc.c1480

stayc1540

expect1548

attend1560

to stand about ——1564

waita1633

suspend1690

to stand over1771

1548 Copie Lettre sent to Preachers sig. Aiiij^v Teachyng theim to expecte, and tary the tyme whiche God hath ordeined.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccccvij^v He desireth..that Duke Maurice woulde be content to expect so long as he may goe and come.

1653 H. More Antidote against Atheisme ii. xii. 98 A Dog expects till his Master has done picking of the bone.

1671 tr. A. de Courtin Rules Civility iv. 23 He is not to knock..but he must patiently expect till it be opened.

1765 G. Colman tr. Terence Brothers iii. vi, in tr. Terence Comedies 388 To sit at home, expecting till a kinsman Came..to marry her?

1827 W. S. Rose tr. L. Ariosto Orlando Furioso V. xxv. li. 20 Her armour and her steed to boot I take, Nor stand expecting until daylight break.

1857 C. H. Spurgeon Serm. 3rd Ser. xii. 182 Ye have been all this time, three years and a half, expecting, till I should come, Jehovah's servant, and give you rain.

1902 J. Payne Poet. Wks. I. 333 Withal aside I turned me with the ass And stood expecting till the crowd should pass Me by.

†b. transitive. With out: to wait for. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expectation, waiting > wait for, await [verb (transitive)]

bidec950

keepc1000

abideOE

i-kepe?c1225

lookc1225

bidea1300

sustainc1350

await1393

remainc1455

tarry?a1475

attenda1513

expect1536

to stay on1540

watch1578

remain1585

staya1586

to stay for ——1602

tend1604

to bide upona1616

behold1642

prestolate1653

expecta1664

wait1746

a1664 M. Frank LI Serm. (1672) 497 Men having..diligently made use of the opportunity, and expected it out.

†12. transitive. With indirect question as object: to wait to see or find out. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1559 W. Bavand tr. J. Ferrarius Common Weale ix. ii. f. 198 To attempte thinges, and rather to expect [L. expectare] what will thereon ensue in the ende, then to haue any respecte to present counsaill.

?1571 tr. G. Buchanan Detectioun Marie Quene of Scottes sig. Ni Do you now expect [L. expectatis] quhat sentence men chosen agaynst law..haue pronounced?

1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 79 All this great fight the Constantinopolitanes beheld..expecting what should bee the euent thereof.

1704 T. Brown Cal. Reform'd in Duke of Buckingham et al. Misc. Wks. 217 I expected every minute, when it would come to downright kicking and cuffing among 'em.

1741 C. Middleton Hist. Life Cicero (ed. 3) II. vii. 191 While he [sc. Cicero] lay encamped..expecting what way the Parthians would move.

1794 W. Godwin Caleb Williams I. iii. 53 Mr. Tyrrel..expected every moment when he would withdraw to another part of the room.

1883 M. Oliphant Hester III. i. 18 To be left alone with nobody caring for her, and perhaps the one she loves best expecting when she will die.

13. transitive. Of a destiny, fate, etc.: to be in reserve for, to be in store for, to await. Now archaic and rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > occurrence > future events > [verb (transitive)] > approach or be in store for

expect1598

overhang1607

impend1652

touch1791

1598 F. Meres tr. Luis de Granada Sinners Guyde ii. xxiv. 257 If it [sc. the soul] looke before, it beholdeth the infinite space of eternity, which expecteth it.

?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xviii. 256 If such Fate expect my life; where death strikes, I will lie.

1659 H. Hammond Paraphr. & Annot. Psalms (lxxxii. 6–7 Paraphr.) 409 That severe account..of their actions, which after death expects all such.

1742 C. Middleton tr. Marcus Antonius in Hist. Life Cicero (ed. 3) III. x. 166 If any other fate expects me, I tast a joy however before-hand, in the sure foresight of your punishment.

1781 W. Cowper Charity 280 Prisons expect the wicked.

1838 E. Stuart-Wortley Lays of Leisure Hours I. 211 Go! in thy Pride and Power!—I'the van of Greatness tower—Thy Destiny expects thee now.

1881 F. T. Palgrave Visions of Eng. 147 Far other fate expects thee, other skies!

2009 A. S. Steinforth Troubled Minds iv. 202 Punishment expects evildoers after death.

Phrases

P1.

a. as well (also much, etc.) as can (also could) be expected and variants: used to indicate that a situation is in accordance with what could be anticipated or hoped for, given the circumstances.

ΚΠ

1614 T. Lodge tr. Seneca Of Consol. Helvia in tr. Seneca Wks. ii. 736 Thou wert brought vp vnder thy stepdame, whom thou by all obsequiousnesse and pietie (as much as could be expected [L. conspici] from a naturall daughter) compelledst to be thy mother.

1631 R. Brathwait Eng. Gentlewoman 152 It is as well as can be expected from her hands, if she attaine that style without some apparant soile.

1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones I. ii. ix. 147 This Lady was..as well as could be expected for one in her Condition.

1839 W. Gregory tr. J. Liebig Instr. Chem. Anal. Org. Bodies 46 The actual result of experiment agrees as closely as can be expected with the theoretical result.

1868 Monthly Jrnl. (Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers) Apr. 118/1 Our Division is doing as well as can be expected, numbering some sixty members, all in good standing.

2010 J. Powell Breaking of Eggs (2011) xvi. 299 ‘I rang her a couple of hours ago.’ ‘And?’ ‘And she is as well as can be expected in the circumstances.’

b. (only) to be expected: (of a situation or event) to be entirely predictable or unsurprising, given the circumstances.

ΚΠ

1818 J. Thomas Church her own Enemy vii. 59 It was only to be expected that such Tracts..should produce a considerable schism in the Society.

1884 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch 10 Apr. 7/2 Being beautiful, attractive, and altogether charming, she won the hearts and admiration of the stronger sex, and the envy, hatred, and malice of the weaker. That was only to be expected.

1967 Brit. Jrnl. Psychiatry 113 929/2 As was to be expected, children referred as anti-social problems provided a high rate of antisocial adults.

2007 Racing Rev. 41/1 The ground was heavy but that was only to be expected so late in the season.

P2. what do (also can) you (also I, she, etc.) expect? and variants: used rhetorically to suggest that there is nothing unexpected about a person, event, etc., given the circumstances; esp. indicating that an outcome or situation is no better than might have been guessed given the background to it. Frequently with from.

ΚΠ

1646 G. Newton Mans Wrath & Gods Praise 13 What might you have expected from those savage creatures?.. Nay, what did you expect, if this poore Towne had been taken by assault?

1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple I. xiv. 224 What can you expect from officers who boil their 'tators in..the ship's coppers?

1943 A. Rand Fountainhead ii. xii. 376 If our best people, like Mr. Stoddard, refuse to recognize this, what can you expect from..the rabble in general?

1987 K. Lette Girls' Night Out (1989) 88 My sex life sucked it really did. Well, what did I expect?

1998 B. Kingsolver Poisonwood Bible (1999) v. 475 If you commit a crime you have to pay the piper, what did she expect?

2004 M. Keyes Other Side of Story (2005) 281 It was particularly painful being attacked by an organ which I respected. If it had been the Torygraph, I could have laughed and said, well what do you expect.

P3. colloquial. expect me when you see me and variants: used when a person is unable or unwilling to say when he or she will return.

ΚΠ

1700 J. Fletcher & J. Vanbrugh Pilgrim (rev. ed.) iii. 20 If you don't find her, expect me—when you see me. No more, farewel.

1844 New Monthly Mag. Nov. 302 Letty, if I have a prejudice, it is against any girl who asks a man when he shall be home... Expect me when you see me.

1876 R. D. Blackmore Cripps II. xi. 179 If I do not ring then, send everybody to bed. And do not expect me until you see me.

1908 S. Ford Side-stepping with Shorty v. 68 It's always safe to expect him when you see him, and it's a waste of time wonderin' what he'll be up to next.

1922 J. C. Snaith Van Roon lxiv. 323 I'll expect you when I see you.

1993 Sociol. Q. 34 718 I don't know when I'll be back. Expect me when you see me.

P4. I expect so: used to indicate that the speaker believes that a previous statement is probably true; also used as an expression of tentative affirmation. Also in negative contexts, as I expect not, I don't expect so.

ΚΠ

1748 E. Moore Foundling iii. iii. 37 Fid. Your Brother will do me Justice, and account for his own Conduct. Roset. I expect so, Fidelia.

1835 Star & Republican Banner (Gettysburg, Pa.) 29 June When we come to the next cross road, we must get down—at least, I expect so; but we shall know in a minute.

1929 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 4 Jan. (Mag. section) 3/4 Haven't you ever heard of rouge? I expect not.

1979 Contemp. Rev. Sept. 132 ‘I don't suppose you'll be talking much..about your new job?’ Surprised, I said, ‘I don't expect so. But why?’

2014 Daily Post (N. Wales) (Nexis) 31 Oct. (News section) 2 Q Have you ever forgotten your lines? A I expect so, but I've forgotten when!

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	expect
释义	† expectn. Forms: see expect v. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: expect v. Etymology: < expect v. Obsolete. Expectation. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > [noun] to-hopec888 weenOE hopea1225 thoughta1350 opiniona1425 attentc1430 looking1440 presume?a1500 beliefa1522 expectation1527 expection1532 looking for1532 looking after?1537 expecting1568 imagination1582 expectance1593 suppose1596 expect1597 expectancy1609 apprehensiona1616 contemplationa1631 prospect1665 supposition1719 speculationa1797 augury1871 preperception1871 1597 J. Payne Royall Exchange 4 Not for the expect of any vayne glorye. a1616 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida (1623) i. iii. 69 Speak Prince of Ithaca, and be't of lesse expect: That matter needlesse..Diuide thy lips; then [etc.]. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2018). expectv. Brit. /ᵻkˈspɛkt/, /ɛkˈspɛkt/, U.S. /ᵻkˈspɛk(t)/, /ɛkˈspɛk(t)/ Forms: 1500s exspecte, 1500s–1600s expecte, 1500s–1700s exspect, 1500s– expect, 1600s axpact, 1600s expeckt; also Scottish 1800s expec, 1800s– expeck; Irish English 1800s expict. See also spect v.² Origin: A borrowing from Latin. Etymon: Latin exspectāre. Etymology: < classical Latin exspectāre, expectāre to wait for, to regard (something) as about to happen, to look forward to, hope for, to wait in expectation < ex- ex- prefix¹ + spectāre spectate v. Compare Old French especter , Middle French (rare) expecter to wait for (something), to await (something) (c1310 in two isolated attestations, subsequently in a small number of examples from the second half of the 15th to the first half of the 16th cent.), Old Occitan espectar . Compare earlier expectation n., expectative adj. I. Senses relating to anticipating. 1. To regard as probable or imminent; to envisage; to anticipate. a. transitive. With simple object. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expect [verb (transitive)] weenOE weenc1000 thinklOE lookc1225 hopec1330 trusta1387 wait onc1390 supposea1393 to wait after ——1393 to look after ——c1400 thinkc1480 attend1483 suppone1490 expect1535 to expect for1538 aspect1548 respect1549 look1560 ween1589 attend1591 propose1594 await1608 to presume on, upon, or of1608 to look forwards1637 prospect1652 to look for ——a1677 augur1678 anticipate1749 to look to ——1782 spect1839 contemplate1841–8 to look forward1848 eye1979 1535 King Henry VIII Let. in State Papers Henry VIII (1834) II. 291 Setting order, redresse, and refourmacyon.., with that diligence and dexteryte, as We may see the successe to folowe of your frutes and doinges, that We daylie expecte. 1605 Bp. J. Hall Medit. & Vowes I. §9 I will expect the woorst, because it may come the best, because I know it will come. 1701 D. Defoe True-born Englishman Pref. I expect a Storm of Ill Language. 1720 W. R. Chetwood Voy. Capt. R. Falconer ii. 38 Finding we could not expect his Life, we pray'd for a speedy and a painless Release from it. 1801 M. Edgeworth Forester in Moral Tales I. 128 They expected a visit in a few hours. 1866 ‘G. Eliot’ Felix Holt I. i. 47 I am afraid of ever expecting anything good again. 1891 Speaker 2 May 533/1 The book is very much what might have been expected from the author. 1919 A. R. Wylie All Sorts vii. 208 Our men have had three days and nights of it. They're hanging on like bulldogs. But we can't expect miracles. 1954 C. P. Snow New Men vi. 101 One of those counters whose ticking I had come to expect in any Barford laboratory. 1985 J. Morris Last Lett. from Hav vii. 61 You seem surprised. I am not what you expected? Tell me frankly, what did you expect? 2013 Wall St. Jrnl. 7 Dec. a2/3 Another bout of freezing rain was expected Saturday. b. transitive. With clause as object.Also in passive with anticipatory it. ΚΠ 1536 in State Papers Henry VIII (1834) II. 337 Irishmen ben, at this season, in such an extreme feare..; expecting daily either that Your Grace will exile theym, or compell theym to a due obedience. 1580 J. Stow Chrons. of Eng. 965 Euery m[a]n expected the iudgement would be giuen the next day. 1603 Sir D. Carleton Let. 28 June in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) III. ccxlv. 82 It is expected the two courts being joyned will produce somewhat extraordinary. 1650 R. Stapleton in tr. F. Strada De Bello Belgico To Rdr. sig. A2 A History of mine, which I cannot exspect should be either praised or pardoned. 1726 W. R. Chetwood Voy. & Adventures Capt. R. Boyle 74 They did not expect she could ever recover. 1757 E. Burr Jrnl. 2 Sept. in New Eng. Q. (1930) 3 314 Mr Burr is expecting that she will prove a numbhead. 1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xi. 79 The Mur..was by no means so bad as we had expected. 1879 Scribner's Monthly Feb. 469/2 They say she has..given herself away to some one else, when I really expected she would reserve herself for me. 1910 Daily Chron. 22 Mar. 1/3 It is expected that a devastating strike will be declared. 2000 Times 17 Nov. 26/5 By the end of the year, the society expects that it will have paid out £1.4 billion to its members in mutual benefits. c. transitive. With object and infinitive, or with infinitive alone. ΚΠ 1538 in State Papers Henry VIII (1834) II. 71 Thei be expecting to have helpe oute of Scotlande, as they saie. 1656 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival Hist. Iron Age i. iv. xxvi. 148 The Imperial Garrisons, who were not expected to be ever seen again in those parts. 1660 T. Willsford Scales Commerce & Trade 182 A Captain of a Castle expecting to be beleagured, makes good his outworks. 1710 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1889) III. 6 I expect to receive them this week. 1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 182 They expected us, and we expected to come. 1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India I. ii. vi. 226 He expected to perform to him one of the most agreeable of all possible services. 1876 W. S. Jevons Logic 9 Seeing a bright flash of lightning, I expect thunder to follow. 1976 M. Birmingham Heat of Sun ii. 21 I..turned my head, half expecting to be able to see over the seat-back. 2012 Daily Tel. 20 Oct. 6/2 Unions were expecting hundreds of thousands of people..to march through London in the protest. 2. intransitive. to expect for: to regard as likely or certain to be forthcoming; to anticipate; = sense 1a. Also with indirect object and infinitive (cf. sense 1c). ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expect [verb (transitive)] weenOE weenc1000 thinklOE lookc1225 hopec1330 trusta1387 wait onc1390 supposea1393 to wait after ——1393 to look after ——c1400 thinkc1480 attend1483 suppone1490 expect1535 to expect for1538 aspect1548 respect1549 look1560 ween1589 attend1591 propose1594 await1608 to presume on, upon, or of1608 to look forwards1637 prospect1652 to look for ——a1677 augur1678 anticipate1749 to look to ——1782 spect1839 contemplate1841–8 to look forward1848 eye1979 1538 in State Papers Henry VIII (1834) II. 1 I perceyve it nedith not me to expecte for any his better favours, but rather the increace of dayly wronges. 1591 J. Harington Briefe Apol. Poetrie in tr. L. Ariosto Orlando Furioso sig. ¶ij^v A Sophister..made a long..Oration..expecting at the end thereof for some great thanks. 1656 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival Hist. Iron Age ii. ii. xv. 270 A peace, for which so many people long, and earnestly expect. 1795 Proc. Old Bailey 16 Sept. 1114/1 You rascal, how can you expect for mercy. 1889 ‘Lady of Louisiana’ Clip her Wing xxii. 290 I told mother ladies like you never smoke, and how could she expect for you to send her any? 1915 A. R. Harding Fur Buyers' Guide v. 78 I don't see how we can expect for anything better. 1995 Peace! Mar. 15/3 Next time out expect for The Roots [sc. a hip-hop group] to flip the script over different beats. 3. a. transitive. To require (something) in fulfilment of a justifiable or reasonable expectation; to require (an anticipated action or thing) from or of a person. ΚΠ 1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello Certaine Tragicall Disc. f. 28^v No lesse dutifull and continuall seruice.., then you expect of the moste drudge and slaue that foloweth your traine. 1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 184 These Negroes..impart freely of what they haue to any ciuill Traueller, expecting some small retribution for their curtesie. 1690 J. Dryden Amphitryon Ep. Ded. sig. Aii There is a Pride of doing more than is expected from us. 1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. vi. 106 The Unhappy, from whom can be expected no Returns either of present Entertainment or future Service. 1811 Balance & State Jrnl. 23 July 237/1 From your superior advantages, think what is expected of you. Can you bear to blast these our just expectations? 1889 Friends' Intelligencer & Jrnl. 2 Nov. 695/1 The Creator has implanted in us a desire to help our fellow-creatures without expecting reward either here or hereafter. 1890 W. Besant Demoniac v. 55 The crew won't expect any drink. 1968 H. S. Thompson Let. 8 Feb. in Fear & Loathing in Amer. (2000) 35 The coat is far below the standards I've come to expect from quality mail-order suppliers. 2008 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 3 Apr. 14/2 The big landlords..expect electoral loyalty from their tenants. b. transitive. To require (a person or thing) to do something in fulfilment of an obligation or expectation. Also with that-clause as object (sometimes in passive with anticipatory it). ΚΠ 1578 J. Banister Hist. Man i. f. 14 (margin) It will be expected that I omitte nothing, since I haue promised y^e whole History of man. 1650 O. Cromwell Let. 25 Dec. in Writings & Speeches (1939) (modernized text) II. viii. 378 I expect it be encouraged. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 115. ¶5 Providence furnishes Materials, but expects that we should work them up our selves. 1759 O. Goldsmith Misc. Wks. (1837) III. 246 Leibnitz..being very erroneous himself, cannot be expected to have bequeathed precision to his followers. 1805 Ld. Nelson in R. Southey Life Nelson (1813) ix. 357 Nelson's last signal—‘England expects that every man will do his duty!’ 1872 J. Morley Voltaire iii. 127 Nor can we be expected to be deeply moved by a form of art that is so unfamiliar to us. 1926 J. Devanny Butcher Shop xxiii. 294 You have a husband, home and children. I've got nothing, and yet you expect me to live the life of an anchorite. 1992 H. Robertson On Hill: People's Guide to Canada's Parl. 87 An MP is expected to be loyal to his party through thick and thin and to vote in the Commons according to party policy. 2006 Church Times 24 Mar. 14/5 Choir members are expected to promote their own concerts, possibly to sell tickets. c. transitive. Of a thing, situation, or condition: to call for, need. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > necessity > condition of being necessary > need or want > need [verb (transitive)] > require or demand askOE willa1225 requirec1425 crave1576 desire1577 exact1592 solicit1592 wish1600 postulate1605 expect1615 to look after ——a1616 seek1656 demand1748 1615 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. III. xi. 319 This charge, by how much more sacred it is, so much more attendance it expecteth. 1687 J. Boyse in Thoresby's Corr. (1832) I. 93 One assertion in it I could not but think expected greater evidence. 1691 T. Hale Acct. New Inventions 29 To order the doing of that now, which the Practice of the Navy..would have expected their having done long since. 1776 W. Mason Eng. Garden ii. 19 The path That leads to all these charms expects defence. 1941 Educ. Res. Bull. 20 125 The obligation to do our part along with others in finding out what the situation expects of us. †4. transitive. To look forward to as a goal or motive. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > intention > intend [verb (transitive)] > have as purpose or object followeOE studylOE turna1200 pursuea1382 purposec1384 to shoot atc1407 ensue1483 proponea1500 studyc1503 prick1545 tread1551 suit1560 to go for ——1568 to set (up) one's rest1572 expect1578 propose1584 propound1596 aima1616 scope1668 to set up1691 aim1821 to go in for1835 to be out for1887 to be flat out for1930 target1966 shoot1967 1578 T. Nicholas tr. F. Lopez de Gómara Pleasant Hist. Conquest W. India 24 Good men doe rather expect [Sp. stimano] renowne, then treasure. 5. transitive. With clause as object: to suppose, surmise; to be inclined to think, to imagine.Use in this sense was often objected to in the 19th cent., and N.E.D (1894) notes: ‘Now rare in literary use. The misuse of the word as a synonym of suppose, without any notion of ‘anticipating’ or ‘looking for’, is often cited as an Americanism, but is very common in dialectal, vulgar or carelessly colloquial speech in England.’ However, H. W. Fowler Mod. Eng. Usage (1926) 159/1 states: ‘This extension of meaning is..so natural that it seems needless purism to resist it’, and it is now common, especially in spoken use. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > supposition, surmise > suppose, surmise [verb (transitive)] ween971 readOE aweena1275 guessc1380 supposec1384 seemc1386 imaginec1405 presupposec1443 deem1470 surmise1509 suspectc1550 doubt1568 expect1592 s'pose1632 fancy1672 sus1958 1592 H. Unton Let. 15 Mar. in Corr. (1847) 382 It is expected that the Duke of Guiese's horse was shott under him. 1645 King Charles I Let. in Kings Cabinet Opened 10 I..expect they [sc. the forces] are much stronger than I am made beleeve. 1763 T. Jefferson Corr. in Wks. (1859) I. 186 I say has been, because I expect there is one [sc. an opening] no longer. 1856 A. Money & G. H. Money Sevastopol ii. xiv. 385 I expect my friend was a paragon of sanctity. 1861 G. W. Dasent tr. Story Burnt Njal I. Pref. p. viii It is an old saying, that a story never loses in telling, and so we may expect it must have been with this story. 1887 Belgravia 63 119 ‘He had taken his degree.’.. ‘Well, it was an ægrotat or something of that sort, I expect.’ 1912 F. Swinnerton Happy Family iv. 132 I don't expect they noticed that Purfew only uses Saxon words. 1944 J. R. R. Tolkien Let. 18 Apr. (1995) 72 I sent as Delphic an oracular reply as I could, giving the adjt. a good deal more facts, I expect, than he wanted. 1996 Daily Tel. 28 Feb. 20/1 I expect that in the 17th century, as now, grooms turned up in church hungover from their stag nights. 6. transitive. To foresee or look forward to the arrival of (a person, esp. a guest). ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > foresee or foreknow [verb (transitive)] fore-witc888 foreseec1000 foreshowc1000 seea1200 forelook1340 purvey1340 before-knowa1425 providea1450 previdec1475 provisec1475 foreknow1530 expect1595 previse1597 preview1607 precognize1612 prospect1652 fore-viewa1711 prevision1868 presee1890 1595 V. Saviolo Practise i. sig. M2 God be your guide, and to morrow I will expecte you. a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) i. ii. 293 Cassi. Will you Dine with me to morrow? Cask. I. Cassi. Good, I will expect you. View more context for this quotation 1713 J. Addison Cato i. iii Every instant I expect him here. 1771 Favourite I. 60 As my lady and Miss Grey expected him on the following morning, they were violently dressed. 1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xxiv. 207 I shall expect you at half-past five. 1891 L. B. Walford Mischief of Monica xiv.148 She was expecting guests from the North. 1948 E. Pargeter By Firelight v. 95 ‘I didn't expect you tonight.’ ‘Or want me,’ said Charles without resentment. ‘I'll go.’ 2004 C. Connelly Attention All Shipping (2005) 207 When I presented myself at reception it turned out they weren't expecting me at all. 7. intransitive. To indulge oneself in expectation; to foresee something; to require something.Frequently in conjunction with and echoing the sense of transitive constructions of expect. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expect [verb (intransitive)] hope1303 think1484 expect1779 1779 S. Johnson Butler in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets II. 24 We love to expect; and when expectation is disappointed or gratified, we want to be again expecting. 1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess iii. 56 Our king expects—was there no precontract. 1862 H. W. Beecher Royal Truths 29 He walks a perpetual self-adulator, expecting until experience has taught him not to expect. 1968 R. Sukenick Up 136 ‘You're not a young man any more. What can you expect?’ ‘I don't expect. I know.’ 2005 J. Angel Hist. Vegas 110 I stopped expecting her to care, and as soon as I stopped expecting, she stopped caring. 8. a. transitive. Of a woman or a couple: to have the birth of (a child) in prospect; to have (a baby) on the way. Chiefly in progressive tenses. Cf. expectant adj. 1b. ΘΚΠ the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > pregnancy or gestation > carry in womb [verb (transitive)] bearOE breedc1000 enfaunt1483 carry1561 enwomba1616 expect1800 gestate1866 the world > animals > animal body > general parts > sexual organs and reproduction > [verb (transitive)] > be pregnant expect1800 1800 Lady's Monthly Museum Feb. 108 Nothing..would have prevented me from actual violence, in his fits of rage, but fear of endangering the life of the infant I then expected. 1869 Friends' Intelligencer 24 Apr. 126/2 John came to see us at Whitsuntide, and said his wife was expecting a baby. 1906 E. F. Benson Paul xvii. 249 Mrs. Beckwith, you know, expects a baby soon. 1940 W. Faulkner Hamlet iv. i. 277 I mind when me and Mrs. Varner was expecting Eula. 2007 E. Flint Legal Careers 71 When we were expecting our second child, I looked for ways to reduce my working hours. b. intransitive. colloquial. To have the birth of one's child in prospect. In later use chiefly: to be pregnant. Now usually in progressive tenses. ΘΚΠ the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > pregnancy or gestation > be pregnant [verb (intransitive)] goOE to go with childc1300 baga1400 gravidate1623 breed1629 (to be) in an interesting condition1748 gestate1883 expect1906 infanticipate1934 1803 T. Twining Let. 13–14 Oct. (1991) II. 659 The Cow is with calf. She expects (so human ladies, I think, express themselves on such occasions) at Christmas. 1817 J. Austen Let. 25 Mar. (1995) 337 She expects much about this day three weeks, & is generally very exact. 1906 J. Galsworthy Man of Prop. i. vi. 82 Whether young Roger's wife was really—expecting. 1946 Billboard 4 May 108/2 Joe's wife, Ann, is expecting at any moment. 1957 R. Longrigg Switchboard 208 ‘Make him do a Charleston.’ ‘Have a heart,’ said Sue. ‘I'm expecting.’ 2006 Reveal (Special Sample Issue) 23 Sept. 25/3 Sandra was expecting again. †9. transitive (in passive). Irish English. Of a person: to be expected to live. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1814 M. Edgeworth Patronage II. xv. 22 Sure I tould you he was not expicted,—that is, if you don't know in England, not expicted to live. 1845 A. M. Hall Whiteboy I. v. 95 Poor Mrs. Macarthy..isn't expected—indeed I must ride hard to overtake her. II. Senses relating to waiting. †10. transitive. To wait for, await; to bide time or defer action until (a particular event or moment). Obsolete.In later use showing the influence of sense 1a. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expectation, waiting > wait for, await [verb (transitive)] bidec950 keepc1000 abideOE i-kepe?c1225 lookc1225 bidea1300 sustainc1350 await1393 remainc1455 tarry?a1475 attenda1513 expect1536 to stay on1540 watch1578 remain1585 staya1586 to stay for ——1602 tend1604 to bide upona1616 behold1642 prestolate1653 expecta1664 wait1746 1536 in State Papers Henry VIII (1834) II. 349 The Deputy advaunced tharmye..to the border of Casshell; and ther encampyng in the felde thre dayes, expectyng the cummyng unto us of the said James of Desmonde. 1585 Abp. E. Sandys Serm. xiv. 239 Note in Cornelius with what humanitie..hee receiued Peter..he called to him his kinsemen and friends and expected him. 1610 Bible (Douay) II. Ecclus. xi. comm. Expect the end of an other mans speach, before you beginne to answer. 1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts ii. 223 Yee..eate your owne good cheere, not expecting your poorer brethren. 1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 202. ⁋5 There was a great crowd in my Antichamber, who expected Audience. 1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall II. xviii. 92 The..king of the Goths, instead of expecting the attack of the Legions, boldly passed the Danube. 1801 R. Southey Thalaba II. ix. 153 With tranquil eyes and talons sheathed The ounce expects his liberty. 1838 Edinb. Rev. Oct. 94/1 The result of the general election had been decidedly unfavourable to the Government; and Shaftesbury impatiently expected the day when the Houses were to meet. 1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola I. xix. 214 Romola stood below.., expecting the moment when her godfather would appear, on his way to execution. 11. a. intransitive. To wait; to allow the passage of time; to take no action until a particular time or event. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > delay or postponement > delay [verb (intransitive)] > defer action until something happens to wait one's (or the) time, hour, opportunity, etc.c1480 stayc1540 expect1548 attend1560 to stand about ——1564 waita1633 suspend1690 to stand over1771 1548 Copie Lettre sent to Preachers sig. Aiiij^v Teachyng theim to expecte, and tary the tyme whiche God hath ordeined. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccccvij^v He desireth..that Duke Maurice woulde be content to expect so long as he may goe and come. 1653 H. More Antidote against Atheisme ii. xii. 98 A Dog expects till his Master has done picking of the bone. 1671 tr. A. de Courtin Rules Civility iv. 23 He is not to knock..but he must patiently expect till it be opened. 1765 G. Colman tr. Terence Brothers iii. vi, in tr. Terence Comedies 388 To sit at home, expecting till a kinsman Came..to marry her? 1827 W. S. Rose tr. L. Ariosto Orlando Furioso V. xxv. li. 20 Her armour and her steed to boot I take, Nor stand expecting until daylight break. 1857 C. H. Spurgeon Serm. 3rd Ser. xii. 182 Ye have been all this time, three years and a half, expecting, till I should come, Jehovah's servant, and give you rain. 1902 J. Payne Poet. Wks. I. 333 Withal aside I turned me with the ass And stood expecting till the crowd should pass Me by. †b. transitive. With out: to wait for. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expectation, waiting > wait for, await [verb (transitive)] bidec950 keepc1000 abideOE i-kepe?c1225 lookc1225 bidea1300 sustainc1350 await1393 remainc1455 tarry?a1475 attenda1513 expect1536 to stay on1540 watch1578 remain1585 staya1586 to stay for ——1602 tend1604 to bide upona1616 behold1642 prestolate1653 expecta1664 wait1746 a1664 M. Frank LI Serm. (1672) 497 Men having..diligently made use of the opportunity, and expected it out. †12. transitive. With indirect question as object: to wait to see or find out. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1559 W. Bavand tr. J. Ferrarius Common Weale ix. ii. f. 198 To attempte thinges, and rather to expect [L. expectare] what will thereon ensue in the ende, then to haue any respecte to present counsaill. ?1571 tr. G. Buchanan Detectioun Marie Quene of Scottes sig. Ni Do you now expect [L. expectatis] quhat sentence men chosen agaynst law..haue pronounced? 1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 79 All this great fight the Constantinopolitanes beheld..expecting what should bee the euent thereof. 1704 T. Brown Cal. Reform'd in Duke of Buckingham et al. Misc. Wks. 217 I expected every minute, when it would come to downright kicking and cuffing among 'em. 1741 C. Middleton Hist. Life Cicero (ed. 3) II. vii. 191 While he [sc. Cicero] lay encamped..expecting what way the Parthians would move. 1794 W. Godwin Caleb Williams I. iii. 53 Mr. Tyrrel..expected every moment when he would withdraw to another part of the room. 1883 M. Oliphant Hester III. i. 18 To be left alone with nobody caring for her, and perhaps the one she loves best expecting when she will die. 13. transitive. Of a destiny, fate, etc.: to be in reserve for, to be in store for, to await. Now archaic and rare. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > occurrence > future events > [verb (transitive)] > approach or be in store for expect1598 overhang1607 impend1652 touch1791 1598 F. Meres tr. Luis de Granada Sinners Guyde ii. xxiv. 257 If it [sc. the soul] looke before, it beholdeth the infinite space of eternity, which expecteth it. ?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xviii. 256 If such Fate expect my life; where death strikes, I will lie. 1659 H. Hammond Paraphr. & Annot. Psalms (lxxxii. 6–7 Paraphr.) 409 That severe account..of their actions, which after death expects all such. 1742 C. Middleton tr. Marcus Antonius in Hist. Life Cicero (ed. 3) III. x. 166 If any other fate expects me, I tast a joy however before-hand, in the sure foresight of your punishment. 1781 W. Cowper Charity 280 Prisons expect the wicked. 1838 E. Stuart-Wortley Lays of Leisure Hours I. 211 Go! in thy Pride and Power!—I'the van of Greatness tower—Thy Destiny expects thee now. 1881 F. T. Palgrave Visions of Eng. 147 Far other fate expects thee, other skies! 2009 A. S. Steinforth Troubled Minds iv. 202 Punishment expects evildoers after death. Phrases P1. a. as well (also much, etc.) as can (also could) be expected and variants: used to indicate that a situation is in accordance with what could be anticipated or hoped for, given the circumstances. ΚΠ 1614 T. Lodge tr. Seneca Of Consol. Helvia in tr. Seneca Wks. ii. 736 Thou wert brought vp vnder thy stepdame, whom thou by all obsequiousnesse and pietie (as much as could be expected [L. conspici] from a naturall daughter) compelledst to be thy mother. 1631 R. Brathwait Eng. Gentlewoman 152 It is as well as can be expected from her hands, if she attaine that style without some apparant soile. 1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones I. ii. ix. 147 This Lady was..as well as could be expected for one in her Condition. View more context for this quotation 1839 W. Gregory tr. J. Liebig Instr. Chem. Anal. Org. Bodies 46 The actual result of experiment agrees as closely as can be expected with the theoretical result. 1868 Monthly Jrnl. (Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers) Apr. 118/1 Our Division is doing as well as can be expected, numbering some sixty members, all in good standing. 2010 J. Powell Breaking of Eggs (2011) xvi. 299 ‘I rang her a couple of hours ago.’ ‘And?’ ‘And she is as well as can be expected in the circumstances.’ b. (only) to be expected: (of a situation or event) to be entirely predictable or unsurprising, given the circumstances. ΚΠ 1818 J. Thomas Church her own Enemy vii. 59 It was only to be expected that such Tracts..should produce a considerable schism in the Society. 1884 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch 10 Apr. 7/2 Being beautiful, attractive, and altogether charming, she won the hearts and admiration of the stronger sex, and the envy, hatred, and malice of the weaker. That was only to be expected. 1967 Brit. Jrnl. Psychiatry 113 929/2 As was to be expected, children referred as anti-social problems provided a high rate of antisocial adults. 2007 Racing Rev. 41/1 The ground was heavy but that was only to be expected so late in the season. P2. what do (also can) you (also I, she, etc.) expect? and variants: used rhetorically to suggest that there is nothing unexpected about a person, event, etc., given the circumstances; esp. indicating that an outcome or situation is no better than might have been guessed given the background to it. Frequently with from. ΚΠ 1646 G. Newton Mans Wrath & Gods Praise 13 What might you have expected from those savage creatures?.. Nay, what did you expect, if this poore Towne had been taken by assault? 1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple I. xiv. 224 What can you expect from officers who boil their 'tators in..the ship's coppers? 1943 A. Rand Fountainhead ii. xii. 376 If our best people, like Mr. Stoddard, refuse to recognize this, what can you expect from..the rabble in general? 1987 K. Lette Girls' Night Out (1989) 88 My sex life sucked it really did. Well, what did I expect? 1998 B. Kingsolver Poisonwood Bible (1999) v. 475 If you commit a crime you have to pay the piper, what did she expect? 2004 M. Keyes Other Side of Story (2005) 281 It was particularly painful being attacked by an organ which I respected. If it had been the Torygraph, I could have laughed and said, well what do you expect. P3. colloquial. expect me when you see me and variants: used when a person is unable or unwilling to say when he or she will return. ΚΠ 1700 J. Fletcher & J. Vanbrugh Pilgrim (rev. ed.) iii. 20 If you don't find her, expect me—when you see me. No more, farewel. 1844 New Monthly Mag. Nov. 302 Letty, if I have a prejudice, it is against any girl who asks a man when he shall be home... Expect me when you see me. 1876 R. D. Blackmore Cripps II. xi. 179 If I do not ring then, send everybody to bed. And do not expect me until you see me. 1908 S. Ford Side-stepping with Shorty v. 68 It's always safe to expect him when you see him, and it's a waste of time wonderin' what he'll be up to next. 1922 J. C. Snaith Van Roon lxiv. 323 I'll expect you when I see you. 1993 Sociol. Q. 34 718 I don't know when I'll be back. Expect me when you see me. P4. I expect so: used to indicate that the speaker believes that a previous statement is probably true; also used as an expression of tentative affirmation. Also in negative contexts, as I expect not, I don't expect so. ΚΠ 1748 E. Moore Foundling iii. iii. 37 Fid. Your Brother will do me Justice, and account for his own Conduct. Roset. I expect so, Fidelia. 1835 Star & Republican Banner (Gettysburg, Pa.) 29 June When we come to the next cross road, we must get down—at least, I expect so; but we shall know in a minute. 1929 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 4 Jan. (Mag. section) 3/4 Haven't you ever heard of rouge? I expect not. 1979 Contemp. Rev. Sept. 132 ‘I don't suppose you'll be talking much..about your new job?’ Surprised, I said, ‘I don't expect so. But why?’ 2014 Daily Post (N. Wales) (Nexis) 31 Oct. (News section) 2 Q Have you ever forgotten your lines? A I expect so, but I've forgotten when! This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.1597v.1535
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† expectn.

expectv.

Phrases