expectant
UK[ɪkˈspɛktənt]US[ɪkˈspɛktənt]
adj
Having or showing an excited feeling that something is about to happen, especially something pleasant.
adj
(of a woman or couple) Waiting for a baby to be born; pregnant.
Morpheme Breakdown
ex
pect
ant
ex
out
pect
look
ant
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word 'expectant' is built upon the Latin verb 'expectare', meaning "to look out for, await". This verb itself is a compound of the prefix 'ex-' (out) and 'spectare' (a frequentative form of 'specere', to look). The literal sense is "to look out for" something, projecting one's gaze outward in anticipation. The suffix '-ant', derived from the Latin present participle ending '-ans', was adopted into English via Old French to form adjectives describing a state or quality. Thus, the modern meaning evolved from the concrete act of looking outward in waiting to the abstract state of hopeful anticipation or, specifically, awaiting the birth of a child.
Analysis
Structure: ex (out) + pect (look) + ant (adjective suffix)
- ex: Latin origin, meaning "out of, from, thoroughly". A prefix indicating outward direction or removal.
- pect: Latin origin, from the root of 'specere' (to look at). A bound root meaning "to look".
- ant: Latin origin via Old French, an adjective-forming suffix meaning "characterized by or performing the action of".
Examples
The expectant crowd waited eagerly for the concert gates to open.
They attended a class for expectant parents.
There was an expectant silence in the room as the winner was announced.