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   Pros·pect

   /ˈpräˌspek(t)/

   

   noun

   • 1. the possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring: "there was no prospect of a reconciliation" Similar likelihoodhopeexpectationanticipation(good/poor) chancechancesoddsprobabilitypossibilitylikelinesspromiselookoutdreamfeardangerhazard
   • ▪ a mental picture of a future or anticipated event: "moving to a new home a long distance away can be a worrying prospect" Similar visionthoughtideacontemplationtaskundertaking
   • ▪ chances or opportunities for success or wealth: "the poor prospects for the steel industry" Similar possibilitiespotentialpromiseexpectationsoutlookfuturescope
   • 2. a person regarded as likely to succeed or as a potential customer, client, etc.: "clients deemed likely prospects for active party membership" Similar candidatepossibilityinformal:catch
   • ▪ a place likely to yield mineral deposits: "additional exploration prospects have been identified in this area"
   • 3. an extensive view of landscape: "a viewpoint commanding a magnificent prospect of the estuary" Similar viewvistaoutlookperspectivepanoramaaspectscenescenerysweeplandscapeseascapetownscapecityscapesurroundingspicturespectaclesightarchaic:lookout

   verb

   • 1. search for mineral deposits in a place, especially by means of experimental drilling and excavation: "the company is also prospecting for gold" Similar inspectsurveymake a survey ofexploresearchscoutreconnoiterexaminecheck outsearchlookseekhuntgo afterdowse
   • ▪ look out for; search for: "the responsibilities of salespeople to prospect for customers"

   Word Origin late Middle English (as a noun denoting the action of looking towards a distant object): from Latin prospectus ‘view’, from prospicere ‘look forward’, from pro- ‘forward’ + specere ‘to look’. Early use, referring to a view of landscape, gave rise to the meaning ‘mental picture’ (mid 16th century), whence ‘anticipated event’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. prospectless adjective

   Scrabble Points: 14

   • P

     3

   • R

     1

   • O

     1

   • S

     1

   • P

     3

   • E

     1

   • C

     3

   • T

     1

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