prospect

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The chance or likelihood that something will happen, often something good.

   There is little prospect of finding a job here.

2. 2
   noun

   Opportunities for future success, especially in a career.

   Her prospects as a writer are excellent.

3. 3
   verb

   To search an area for valuable minerals such as gold or oil.

   They went into the hills to prospect for gold.

From Middle English prospecte, from Latin prōspectus (“view, sight, prospect; panorama”), from prōspiciō (“to look forward”) + -tus (suffix forming action nouns), from pro (“before, forward”) + speciō, spiciō (“to look, to see”). By surface analysis, pro- + -spect. Doublet of prospectus and prospekt. The verb is from the noun.

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