Anticipation

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ænˌtɪs.ɪˈpeɪ.ʃən/

Definitions

1. A feeling of excitement or nervousness about something that is going to happen in the future
2. A mental state involving a heightened sense of expectation or eagerness for a forthcoming event, often accompanied by both excitement and anxiety
3. A state of excited expectation regarding future events that may lead to feelings of both hope and anxiety

Etymology: The Latin root of "anticipation" is a compound built from "ante," meaning "before," and "capere," meaning "to take" or "seize." Latin "anticipare" thus meant to take or seize something before its proper time, and the noun "anticipatio" named that act of getting ahead of events. The Latin sense was literal and a little bold: to take hold of something early, before it had arrived. English received the word through Middle French "anticipation," and it appeared in Middle English as "anticipacioun." Its sense of looking forward to something with eagerness or apprehension grew out of the older idea of getting to a thing first. The word's shape is plain: "anticipate" with the noun-forming suffix "-ion" attached, so the noun is simply the act or state of anticipating.

Synonyms: expectation, foreseeing, awaiting, hope, prediction

Antonyms: surprise, doubt, disregard, unpredictability