■ adverb
1》 in a hopeful manner.
2》 it is to be hoped that: ~ the book should be finished soon.
Usage
The traditional sense of ~ , ‘in a hopeful manner’, has been used since the 17th century. In the 20th century a new use arose, with the meaning ‘it is to be hoped that’. This sense is regarded by some traditionalists as incorrect, despite the fact that it is now the dominant use.