— anticipatable , adj. — anticipator , n.
/an tis"euh payt'/ , v.t., anticipated, anticipating .
1. to realize beforehand; foretaste or foresee: to anticipate pleasure.
2. to expect; look forward to; be sure of: to anticipate a favorable decision.
3. to perform (an action) before another has had time to act.
4. to answer (a question), obey (a command), or satisfy (a request) before it is made: He anticipated each of my orders.
5. to nullify, prevent, or forestall by taking countermeasures in advance: to anticipate a military attack.
6. to consider or mention before the proper time: to anticipate more difficult questions.
7. to be before (another) in doing, thinking, achieving, etc.: Many modern inventions were anticipated by Leonardo da Vinci.
8. Finance.
a. to expend (funds) before they are legitimately available for use.
b. to discharge (an obligation) before it is due.
v.i.
9. to think, speak, act, or feel an emotional response in advance.
[ 1525-35; anticipatus taken before, anticipated (ptp. of anticipare ), equiv. to anti- (var. of ante- ANTE-) + -cip- (comb. form of capere to take) + -atus -ATE 1 ]
Syn. 1. See expect. 5. preclude, obviate.
Usage . Despite claims that ANTICIPATE should only be used to mean "to perform (an action) or respond to (a question, etc.) in advance" or "to forestall," it has been used widely since the 18th century as a synonym for expect, often with an implication of pleasure: We anticipate a large turnout at the next meeting. This use is standard in all types of speech and writing.