prospect English · revision 7548

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1425|origins=la prospicio}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpɹɑspɛkt/, /pɹəˈspɛkt/; /ˈpɹɒspɛkt/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English prospecte, [[bor|la|prospectus|alt=prōspectus|t=outlook, distant view]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from the past participle of [[m|la|prospicio|alt=prōspicere|t=to look out on, look forward]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from prō-, forward, and specere, to look (see [[spy]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from PIE [[ine-pro|*spek-|t=to observe]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An outlook or view, the action of looking into the distance: probably before 1425, in a translation of Higden's ''Polychronicon'';^(Barnhart 1988) 1430–50 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ An extensive view of landscape is first recorded in Elyot's ''Dictionary'' (1538),^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) a mental view or survey from the 1620s,^(Etymonline) and the scene itself from the 1630s.^(Etymonline) Looking forward is from Shakespeare's ''Macbeth'' (1605),^(Barnhart 1988) a thing expected from 1665,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''prospects'', things looked forward to, from 1667.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) A person or thing considered promising, such as a likely customer or candidate, is from 1922.^(Etymonline) A spot giving prospects of ore is from 1832, and the verb, to explore for gold or other minerals, from 1841 in American English.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) An earlier verb, to look out over, from Latin prospectare, is obsolete.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) In Scotland and Yorkshire a prospect was a telescope.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1425 – a view.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1538 – an extensive view.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1605 – looking forward.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1665 – a thing expected.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1841 – to search for minerals.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1922 – a promising person.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something [[expect|alt=expected]]; a [[possibility]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(prospects)'' Chances of future success.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A likely customer, or a candidate who seems likely to succeed.^(AHD)

+ # A wide view of a landscape; a [[vista]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To search a region for [[mineral]] deposits or oil.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prospector]]

+ * [[prospectless]]

+ * [[nonprospect]]

+ * [[bioprospect]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prospective]]

+ * [[prospectus]]

+ * [[spy]]

+ * [[spectacle]]

+ * [[inspect]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}