I.to look forth upon, look out; to look at, view, behold, see afar off, gaze upon: “mare,” Cic. Att. 9, 10, 2.
I. Lit.: “pars ex tectis fenestrisque prospectant,” Liv. 24, 21; cf. Verg. A. 7, 813: “Campani moenia urbis prospectantes repleverant,” Liv. 23, 47, 3: “hostem,” id. 22, 14, 11: “e terrā aliquem,” id. 29, 26, 8: “intenti proelium equestre prospectabant,” Sall. J. 60, 3: “incendium e turri,” Suet. Ner. 38: “e puppi pontum,” Ov. M. 3, 651: “Capitolia ab excelsā aede,” id. ib. 15, 841: “prospectans maesta carinam,” Cat. 64, 52.—Absol.: “astris prospectantibus,” Stat. S. 5, 1, 124.—Impers. pass.: “quā longissime prospectari poterat,” Tac. A. 3, 1.—
B. Transf.
1. To look around or about: “prospectare, ne uspiam insidiae sient,” Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 2.—
2. Of localities, to look towards, to lie or be situate towards any quarter (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): “villa, quae monte summo posita Prospectat Siculum,” Phaedr. 2, 5, 10: “villa, quae subjectos sinus editissima prospectat,” Tac. A. 14, 9: “septentrionem,” id. H. 5, 6: “locus late prospectans,” furnishing a wide prospect, id. ib. 3, 60: “thermae prospicientes viam sacram,” Sen. Contr. 4 (9), 27, 18: “hos (campos) ad occasum conversa prospectat,” Curt. 6, 4, 17; Tib. 1, 7, 19; Sil. 3, 418.—
II. Trop.
A. To look forward to, to expect a thing; to hope, look out for, await (class.): “exsilium,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 17, § 44: “diem de die prospectans, ecquod auxilium ab dictatore appareret,” Liv. 5, 48.—
B. To await, impend over, threaten one: “te quoque fata Prospectant paria,” Verg. A. 10, 741.—
C. To foresee (post-class.): “prospectandi cognitio,” App. Dogm. Plat. 2, p. 24, 35.