I. ˈprä-ˌspekt noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin prospectus view, prospect, from prospicere to look forward, exercise foresight, from pro- forward + specere to look — more at pro- , spy
Date: 15th century
1. : exposure 3b
2.
a.
(1) : an extensive view
(2) : a mental consideration : survey
b. : a place that commands an extensive view : lookout
c. : something extended to the view : scene
d. archaic : a sketch or picture of a scene
3. obsolete : aspect
4.
a. : the act of looking forward : anticipation
b. : a mental picture of something to come : vision
c. : something that is awaited or expected : possibility
d. plural
(1) : financial expectations
(2) : chances
5. : a place showing signs of containing a mineral deposit
6.
a. : a potential buyer or customer
b. : a likely candidate for a job or position
•
- in prospect
Synonyms:
prospect , outlook , anticipation , foretaste mean an advance realization of something to come. prospect implies expectation of a particular event, condition, or development of definite interest or concern
the prospect of a quiet weekend
outlook suggests a forecasting of the future
a favorable outlook for the economy
anticipation implies a prospect or outlook that involves advance suffering or enjoyment of what is foreseen
the anticipation of her arrival
foretaste implies an actual though brief or partial experience of something forthcoming
the frost was a foretaste of winter
II. ˈprä-ˌspekt, chiefly Brit prə-ˈ
Date: 1841
intransitive verb
: to explore an area especially for mineral deposits
transitive verb
: to inspect (a region) for mineral deposits ; broadly : explore
• pros·pec·tor -ˌspek-tər, -ˈspek- noun