Search the Dictionary

Fit or worthy to be depended on; certain not to fail or disappoint expectation; unfailing; strong; permanent; enduring. "His sure word." Keble. The Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord. 1 Sam. xxv. 28. The testimony of the Lord is sure. Ps. xix. 7. Which put in…

Expressing, or proceeding from, suspense or doubt. [Obs.] "Expectation held his look suspense." Milton.

A keeping of the hearer in doubt and in attentive expectation of what is to follow, or of what is to be the inference or conclusion from the arguments or observations employed.

Hence, to keep from sinking, as in despondence, or the like; to support. No comfortable expectations of another life to sustain him under the evils in this world. Tillotson.

by presenting some good to the view and exciting desire, but continually frustrating the expectations by keeping that good out of reach; to tease; to torment. Thy vain desires, at strife Within themselves, have tantalized thy life. Dryden.

e awake or alive to anything; to be roused; to be eager or alert; as, to be a tiptoe with expectation.

A slight nervous excitement or agitation, such as is caused by desire, expectation, or suspense. A widow, who had a twittering towards a second husband, took a gossiping companion to manage the job. L'Estrange.

; not conforming to reason; unreasonable; exceeding the limits of any reasonable claim or expectation; inordinate; as, an unconscionable person or demand; unconscionable size. Which use of reason, most reasonless and unconscionable, is the utmost that any tyrant ever pretended. Milton. His giantship is gone somewhat cr…

Having no foundation; baseless; vain; idle; as, unfounded expectations. Paley.

Want of reality; inanity; nihility. [R.] Their expectations will meet with vacuity. Glanvill.

To stay or rest in expectation; to stop or remain stationary till the arrival of some person or event; to rest in patience; to stay; not to depart. All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Job xiv. 14. They also serve who only stand and wait. Milton. Haste, my dear father; 't is no time to wa…

To be expectant; to look with expectation; to wait; to seek opportunity. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning. Ps. cxxx. 6.

To feel doubt and curiosity; to wait with uncertain expectation; to query in the mind; as, he wondered why they came. I wonder, in my soul, What you would ask me, that I should deny. Shak.

and its enjoyments. A foutre for the world and worldlings base. Shak. If we consider the expectations of futurity, the worldling gives up the argument. Rogers. And worldlings blot the temple's gold. Keble.