Ex`pec*ta"tion (?) n. [L.
expectio. exspectio: cf. F. expectation.]
1. The act or state of expecting or looking
forward to an event as about to happen. "In expectation
of a guest." Tennyson.
My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my
expectation is from him.
Ps. lxii. 5.
2. That which is expected or looked
for.
Why our great expectation should be called
The seed of woman.
Milton.
3. The prospect of the future; grounds upon
which something excellent is expected to happen; prospect of anything
good to come, esp. of property or rank.
His magnificent expectations made him, in the
opinion of the world, the best match in Europe.
Prescott.
By all men's eyes a youth of
expectation.
Otway.
4. The value of any chance (as the prospect
of prize or property) which depends upon some contingent event.
Expectations are computed for or against the occurrence of the
event.
5. (Med.) The leaving of the disease
principally to the efforts of nature to effect a cure.
Expectation of life, the mean or average
duration of the life individuals after any specified age.
Syn. -- Anticipation; confidence; trust.
