The word "prospective" (/prəˈspɛktɪv/) has its roots in Latin and means "likely to happen or become". Its spelling is unique because of the presence of the letter "s" after the letter "p" instead of a double "s". This is due to its Latin origin where the word was spelled "prospectivus". The "s" sound in the middle of the word is represented by the letter "e" followed by the letter "c". This spelling rule is commonly observed in English words with a similar sound.
Prospective is an adjective that typically describes something or someone that is expected, likely, or potential in the future. It refers to a possibility, or something that may happen or be realized at a later time. It describes the anticipation of or inclination towards a particular outcome or event.
When used in relation to people, "prospective" refers to individuals who are being considered for a certain role, job, or position. It denotes their potential suitability or qualifications for the desired position. For example, a "prospective employee" is someone who is being considered, interviewed, and evaluated for a job opportunity before they are formally hired.
In a similar context, it can also refer to individuals who are potential candidates for a specific opportunity, such as "prospective students" who are exploring the possibility of attending a particular university or college.
Furthermore, "prospective" can also be used to describe things, such as "prospective clients" or "prospective buyers." In these cases, it signifies individuals or companies who are being targeted or pursued as potential customers or purchasers.
Overall, prospective is a term that denotes a forward-looking perspective, highlighting potential and possibilities rather than certainty or actuality. It emphasizes the anticipation of future outcomes or the evaluation of individuals, opportunities, or events based on their potential and potential suitability.
Looking forward in time; viewing at a distance; future; opposed to retrospective.
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 "prospective" originated from the Latin word "prospectivus", which is derived from the verb "prospicere". "Prospicere" is a combination of the prefix "pro", meaning "forward" or "ahead", and the verb "spicere", meaning "to look" or "to see". Therefore, "prospective" can be understood as something that is looked forward to or anticipated.