/ ɪkˈspektənsi; NAmE / noun
[ U ] the state of expecting or hoping that sth, especially sth good or exciting, will happen :
There was an air of expectancy among the waiting crowd.
—see also life expectancy
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: from Latin exspectantia , from exspectare look out for, from ex- out + spectare to look.