The word "expectant" is spelled with a combination of sounds that can be confusing for English learners. The first syllable, "ex-", is pronounced with a short "e" sound, followed by the "p" sound. The next syllable, "-pect-", is marked by a short "e" vowel sound, followed by the voiceless consonant "t". The final syllable, "-ant", is pronounced with a long "a" sound as in "ban", followed by the voiceless consonant "t". The IPA phonetic transcription for "expectant" is /ɪkˈspɛktənt/.
Expectant is an adjective that is used to describe a state or feeling of anticipation or eager waiting. It can refer to a person who is waiting or hoping for something to happen, often with a sense of excitement or anxiety. It is commonly associated with the anticipation of a future event or outcome that one is looking forward to.
In a more general context, expectant can also describe a person or situation that is pregnant or awaiting the birth of a child. This usage reflects the idea of eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new life.
The term expectant can also describe an attitude or demeanor characterized by anticipation and hopefulness. This may manifest in various forms such as facial expressions, body language, or verbal cues.
Furthermore, expectant can be used to describe a situation or period of time that is marked by the anticipation of something significant or important. For example, an expectant atmosphere may refer to one where people are waiting for an announcement, a performance, or a major event.
Overall, expectant conveys the sense of hopeful waiting, whether it is about a specific event, the birth of a child, or a general state of anticipation. It encompasses a range of emotions from excitement to anxiety, and is commonly used to describe the state of someone or something eagerly awaiting a future occurrence.
• Waiting, looking for.
• One possessed of the belief or hope that he will at some future time receive something good.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word expectant derives from the Latin word expectantem, which is the present participle of the verb expectare. Expectare combines ex, meaning out, and spectare, meaning to look. Therefore, the basic meaning of expectant is someone who is looking out or waiting for something.