prospect

I. 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 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. Date: 1841 intransitive verb to explore an area especially for mineral deposits transitive verb to inspect (a region) for mineral deposits; broadly explore • prospector noun