Webster's English Dictionary

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prospect

1. pros.pect \'pra:s-.pekt\ n [ME, fr. L prospectus view, prospect, fr. 
   prospectus, pp. of pro]spicere to look forward, exercise foresight, fr. 
   pro- forward + specere to look - more at PRO-, SKY 1: OUTLOOK, EXPOSURE  
   2a1: an extensive view  2a2: a mental consideration : SURVEY  2b: a place 
   that commands an extensive view : LOOKOUT  2c: something extended to the 
   view : SCENE  archaic  2d: a sketch or picture of a scene  obs  3: ASPECT  
   4a: act of looking forward : ANTICIPATION  4b: a mental picture of 
   something to come : VISION  4c: something that is awaited or expected : 
   POSSIBILITY  pl  4d1: financial expectations  4d2: CHANCES  5a: a place 
   showing signs of containing a mineral deposit  5b: a partly developed mine  
   5c: the mineral yield of a tested sample of ore or gravel  6a: a potential 
   buyer or customer  6b: a likely candidate ean an advance realization of 
   something to come. PROSPECT implies expectation of a particular event, 
   condition, or development of definite interest or concern; OUTLOOK suggests 
   a forecasting of the future; ANTICIPATION implies a prospect or outlook 
   that involves advance suffering or enjoyment of what is foreseen; FORETASTE 
   implies an actual though brief or partial experience of something that will 
   or may come later in full force SYN syn PROSPECT, OUTLOOK, ANTICIPATION, 
   FORETASTE m 
2. pros.pect \'pra:s-.pekt, chiefly Brit pr*s-'\ \-.pek-t*r, -'pek-\ vi : 
   to explore an area esp. for mineral deposits to inspect (a region) for  
   mineral deposits; broadly : EXPLORE - pros.pec.tor n