expectation of life

1 definition found

expectation of life - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Expectation \Ex`pec*ta"tion\n. [L. expectio. exspectio: cf. F.
     expectation.]
     1. The act or state of expecting or looking forward to an
        event as about to happen. "In expectation of a guest."
        --Tennyson.
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              My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation
              is from him.                          --Ps. lxii. 5.
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     2. That which is expected or looked for.
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              Why our great expectation should be called
              The seed of woman.                    --Milton.
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     3. The prospect of the future; grounds upon which something
        excellent is expected to happen; prospect of anything good
        to come, esp. of property or rank.
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              His magnificent expectations made him, in the
              opinion of the world, the best match in Europe.
                                                    --Prescott.
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              By all men's eyes a youth of expectation. --Otway.
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     4. The value of any chance (as the prospect of prize or
        property) which depends upon some contingent event.
        Expectations are computed for or against the occurrence of
        the event.
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     5. (Med.) The leaving of the disease principally to the
        efforts of nature to effect a cure.
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     Expectation of life, the mean or average duration of the
        life individuals after any specified age.
  
     Syn: Anticipation; confidence; trust.
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