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prospicio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word prospicio

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (speciō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [proːsˈpɪ.ki.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [prosˈpiː.t͡ʃi.o][1]

Forms

prōspiciō (present infinitive prōspicere, perfect active prōspexī, supine prōspectum); third (-iō variant) conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from prō- “forward” and speciō “to look”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of having a view, and Caecilius, of seeing in front.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to see in front, look out, as Terence's nisi parum prōspiciunt oculī “unless my eyes do not see far enough”, of buildings to give a view of, and in Livy to survey.[2][5] From Terence it meant to foresee, anticipate, to attend to the future, look out for, take care, and in Cicero to see to it that, and of a law to provide that.[2] With a dative it meant to make provision for, as in Cicero.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to look, foresee, look into the distance, provide for.[6] Its participle prōspectus “distant view” gave English prospect in the early 15th century.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of having a view.[2][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of foreseeing.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of providing for.[2][4]
  • early 15th century – English prospect is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To see in front; to give a view of; to look out.[2]
  2. To watch, survey.[2]
  3. To foresee, anticipate.[2]
  4. To see to, take care; to look out for.[2]
  5. To make provision for.[2]

Word family

  • improspectus
  • prospectiuus
  • prospector
  • prōspectus
  • prospex
  • prospica
  • prospicientia
  • prospicus
  • prōspicuus

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Prospicio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/prospicio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·