expectancen.
/ᵻkˈspɛkt(ə)ns/, /ɛkˈspɛkt(ə)ns/, U.S. /ɪkˈspɛkt(ə)ns/, /ɛkˈspɛkt(ə)ns/ a. The action or state of waiting for a person or thing. Frequently in (after) long expectance. Obsolete.Later quots. show the influence of sense 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expectation, waiting > [noun]
biding1340
expectation1524
await1538
tarriance1561
tendance1591
expectance1592
expectancy1592
attendance1597
awaiting1607
attendancy1646
waiting1743
sitting out1838
1592 tr. F. Du Jon Apocalypsis Ep. sig. *iij This our Church since the first comming of Christ, remaining in expectance [L. in exspectatione] of his second and glorious appearance.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 1092 At length after long expectance..they were..brought forth into the field.
a1665 K. Digby Jrnl. Voy. to Mediterranean (1868) 4 In expectance of the others companie.
a1718 T. Parnell Posthumous Wks. (1758) 149 Long expectance of a bliss delay'd Breeds anxious doubt.
1724 J. Swift Let. to People of Ireland 6 The Addresses of Both Houses, after long Expectance, produced nothing but a report..in Favour of Wood.
1818 R. Southey in Q. Rev. 18 8 The slow season of expectance past, True Love..[might] Requite the sorrows of this hard delay.
1863 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of Crimea II. xvi. 249 Now at length, and after long expectance, they indeed would go into action.
b. With indirect question: the state of waiting to find something out. Obsolete.
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1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida iv. vii. 30 There is expectance heere from both the sides, What further you will do. View more context for this quotation
1658 tr. J. Ussher Ann. World 227 Himself with such small forces as he had gotten together, staid at Ecbatane, in expectance, how things might go.
2. † b. Something from which results are expected. Obsolete. rare.
a. The action or fact of believing that something will happen or be the case; the feeling or state of mind accompanying this; anticipation. Cf. expectation n. 1, 3.
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
1593 T. Bilson Perpetual Govt. Christes Church xi. 178 What maruell if Cyprian..persisted in that course, which he sawe to bee..surest against his maligners, to decrease their number and defeate their expectance?
1640 H. Slingsby Diary (1836) 64 Great expectance their is of a happy Parliament.
1691 T. Hale Acct. New Inventions p. xc Their expectance of being better used abroad.
1757 E. Burke Philos. Enq. Sublime & Beautiful iv. §17. 146 When any thing happens against the expectance of the mind.
a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. iii. 56 Some particular person in whom that general expectance might centre.
1814 H. F. Cary tr. Dante Vision II. xxi. 96 The thirst did feel abatement of its edge E'en from expectance.
1883 Athenæum 1 Sept. 264/3 A chief part of the pleasure of the Shakspearean sonnet is the expectance of the climacteric rest of the couplet at the end.
1945 N. Streatfeild Saplings xxi. 93 In London there were sirens and guns and ever-growing expectance of something worse. What if the Germans landed?
2001 J. Kolbert Worlds E. Wiesel viii. 111 The young Wiesel and the other children of Sighet awaited each of these visits with much expectance.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > hope > [noun] > object of hope
hopea1382
expectancya1616
expectance1663
spes1815
white hope1911
1663 W. Davenant Siege of Rhodes: 2nd Pt. i. 6 Being to their last expectance driven, Ianthe, now they cry!
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > hope > promise, ground of hope > [noun]
i-wonc1275
wonec1290
likelinessa1450
hopec1480
likelihood1526
promise?1533
show1600
expectance1602
expectation1611
auspiciousness1649
hopefulness1651
promisingness1665
expectancy1696
brilliancy1781
1602 W. Warner Epitome Hist. Eng. in Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) 373 The Expectance of the Crowne in Right and all Opinions rested in this Edgar.
1621 Knolles's Gen. Hist. Turkes (ed. 3) 1385 Being a man of small fortune, and little expectance in his owne countrey.
1650 R. Stapleton tr. F. Strada De Bello Belgico ix. 36 There could be no exspectance of a forrein expedition.
1701 N. Wilson in J. Keble Life T. Wilson: Pt. I (1863) 158 Wishing that they may live so as to have a just expectance of that blessed immortality.
1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison I. ii. 7 Having a good estate in possession; fine expectances besides.
1818 ‘T. Brown’ Bath III. v. 173 Every one passes for a gentleman, a man of property, or one of great family and expectances.
1897 Amer. & Eng. Railroad Cases 5 6 In estimating damages for death by wrongful act, the expectances of the deceased may be reckoned.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > dueness or propriety > [noun] > right or moral entitlement > one's due
rightOE
dutyc1386
duec1450
expectativec1540
expectancy1624
expectance1652
1652 Faithful Scout No. 81. 632 Why should we fear a flag made of a purse? which when his sailes are truly blown with the mettle of his expectance, will be willing to be undermined.
1684 Z. Cawdrey Certainty Salvation 30 Towards his Servants he was so just, that he..gave them all their due Expectances.
Phrases
P1. beyond (also †above) (a person's) expectance: outside the realm of what is expected; beyond or surpassing expectations. Now somewhat rare.
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1614 R. Brathwait Schollers Medley 66 The hopes of these men attaine sometimes ends aboue expectance.
1659 Lady Alimony v. vi. sig. K3v Who..rais'd their ruin'd Fortunes Above Expectance!
1789 Countess Dowager of Carlisle Thoughts in Form of Maxims addressed to Young Ladies 44 If elevated by alliance beyond your expectance, endeavour to support that advantage by the dignity of your actions.
1826 W. Scott Woodstock III. vi. 173 Take advantage of his absence, Mark; it is a grace that God gives thee beyond expectance.
1869 J. Grant Girl he Married III. xxviii. 270 I confess that this scene has gone quite beyond my expectance, and my patience, too.
1992 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch (Nexis) 12 Jan. (Mag.) 6 She felt no urgency about getting to the hospital, where Chelsea was having an ‘incredibly healthy day—beyond expectance’.
P2. in expectance. Now rare.
a. In a state or condition of being expected; in prospect.
ΚΠ
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xlii. 1130 The Macedonian warre was in daily expectance [L. in expectatione].
1640 T. Fuller Joseph's Coat 119 In hope & expectance he hath the reversion of Heaven and happinesse.
1790 Parl. Reg. 1781–96 XXVII. 256 It was not..from what was actually enjoyed, and in possession, that independence was to be looked for, but from what was in expectance.
1840 Casket Nov. 217/1 They considered their worst cares and sorrows as being brought to an end; and nought was in expectance for them but love and enjoyment.
1900 F. Remington Men with Bark On 106 Any Indians who might be viewing that log house with little schemes of murder in expectance.
b. Law. Of property: expected to be inherited, esp. as remainder or reversion.
ΚΠ
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Expectative, Benefices conferez en expectative, In reuersion, or expectance.
1714 W. Nelson Lex Testamentaria 444 In the Case of a Devise a Freehold may be in Expectance.
1824 A. Stearns Summary Law & Pract. Real Actions vi. 329 And of course the donor..had now, by the construction given to the statute, the fee simple in expectance.
1904 Med. Brief 32 937/1 As a matter of fact, Percy had property in expectance to the amount of £3,000 at the time of his death.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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