prospective
adjective
- expected to become
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /pɹəˈspɛktɪv/
adj
Etymology: From Middle French prospectif, from Late Latin prospectivus. See more at English prospect.
- Likely or expected to happen or become.
“Prospective students are those who have already applied to the university, but have yet to be admitted.”
- Anticipated in the near or far future.
“A short distance above I-ch’ang is the prospective site of a hydroelectric dam that has vast promise for the industrialization of central China.”
- Of or relating to a prospect; furnishing a prospect.
“And in times long and dark Proſpective Glaſs / Fore-ſaw what future dayes ſhould bring to paſs,”
- Looking forward in time; acting with foresight.
“1668-1690, Josiah Child, A new discourse of trade The French king, and the king of Sweden are […] circumspect, industrious, and prospective, too, in this affair.”
- Being a study that starts with the present situation and follows participants into the future
- Indicating grammatically an activity about to begin.
“What some other languages convey with prospective aspect, English conveys with expressions like going to drive the car home.”
noun
Etymology: From Middle French prospectif, from Late Latin prospectivus. See more at English prospect.
- The scene before or around, in time or in space; view; prospect.
“the whole Scene of affairs was changed from Spain to France there now lay the prospective”
- A perspective glass.
“[T]hey [two pavillions] were trimmed on the inside with rich armour and military furniture, hanged up as upon the walls; and behind the tents there were represented, in prospective, the tops of divers other tents, as if it had been a camp.”
- A prospective (potential) member, student, employee, date, partner, etc.
“Would you like to show the prospective around?”
“I'm meeting the prospectives at 3.”