I.a. [specio].
I. Neutr., to look forward or into the distance, to look out, to look, see (class.).
A. In gen.: neque post respiciens, neque ante prospiciens, Varr. ap. Non. 443, 2: “parum prospiciunt oculi,” do not see well, Ter. Phorm. 5, 1, 8; Plaut. Curc. 2, 3, 38: “grues volant ad prospiciendum alte,” Plin. 10, 23, 30, § 58: “ex superioribus locis prospicere in urbem,” Caes. B. C. 2, 5: “multum,” to have an extensive prospect, Cic. Fam. 7, 20, 1: “per umbram,” Verg. A. 2, 733: “procul,” id. ib. 12, 353: “ex moenibus,” Hor. C. 3, 2, 8: longe lateque, Auct. B. Hisp. 8.—
B. In partic.
1. To look out, to watch, be on the watch: “puer ab januā prospiciens,” Nep. Hann. 12, 4: “pavorem simulans (feles) prospexit toto die,” Phaedr. 2, 4, 20: “Michol prospiciens per fenestram,” Vulg. 2 Reg. 6, 16; cf. Ambros. Off. 2, 29, 46.—
2. To look or see to beforehand, to exercise foresight, to look out for, take care of, provide for any thing: “ego jam prospiciam mihi,” Ter. Ad. 4, 2, 50: “consulere ac prospicere debemus, ut, etc.,” Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 58, § 133: “prospicite atque consulite,” id. ib. 2, 1, 8, § “22: ut prospicias et consulas rationibus meis,” id. Fam. 3, 2, 1: “consulite vobis, prospicite patriae,” id. Cat. 4, 2, 3: “homo longe in posterum prospiciens,” id. Fam. 2, 8, 1: “ut illum intellegatis non longe animo prospexisse morientem,” id. Clu. 12, 34: “prospicite, ut, etc.,” id. Font. 17, 39: “statuebat prospiciendum, ne, etc.,” Caes. B. G. 5, 7: “in annum,” Varr. R. R. 1, 23, 3.—Impers. pass.: “senatusconsulto prospectum est, ne, etc.,” Paul. Sent. 4, 2.— Absol.: malo nos prospicere quam ulcisci, Ter. Eun. 4, 6, 24: “plagae crescunt, Nisi prospicis,” id. Phorm. 5, 2, 17.—
II. Act., to see afar off, to discern, descry, espy.
A. In gen. (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): “Italiam summā ab undā,” Verg. A. 6, 357: “campos Prospexit longe,” id. ib. 11, 909; Hor. C. 3, 25, 10: “moenia urbis Tarpeiā de rupe,” Luc. 1, 195: “ex speculis adventantem hostium classem,” Liv. 21, 49, 8: “ut hostium agmen inde prospicerent,” Curt. 3, 8, 26: “ex edito monte cuncta,” id. 7, 6, 4.—
b. Transf., of situations, to have or command a view of, look or lie towards, to overlook: “domus prospicit agros,” Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 23: “cenatio latissimum mare, amoenissimas villas prospicit,” Plin. Ep. 2, 17, 12; Plin. 5, 16, 15, § 72; Phaedr. 2, 5, 10: “freta prospiciens Tmolus,” Ov. M. 11, 150; 8, 330.—
c. Trop.: “aliquis infans decessit, cui nihil amplius contigit quam prospicere vitam,” to see life from a distance, to get a glimpse of, Sen. Ep. 66, 42: “turpe est seni aut prospicienti senectutem, etc.,” one who sees old age before him, id. ib. 33, 7: “neque prospexisse castra,” i. e. life in camp, Plin. Pan. 15, 2.—
B. In partic.
1. To look at attentively, to gaze at (very rare): “aliquem propter aliquid,” Nep. Dat. 3, 3.—
2. To foresee a thing (class.): “multo ante, tamquam ex aliquā speculā, prospexi tempestatem futuram,” Cic. Fam. 4, 3, 1; cf.: “longe prospicere futuros casus rei publicae,” id. Lael. 12, 40; id. Dom. 5, 12: “multum in posterum,” id. Mur. 28, 59: “ex imbri soles,” Verg. G. 1, 393. —With rel.-clause: “ut jam ante animo prospicere possis, quibus de rebus auditurus sis,” Cic. Quint. 10, 35; id. Div. in Caecil. 13, 42.—
3. To look out for, provide, procure: “habitationem alicui,” Petr. 10: “sedem senectuti,” Liv. 4, 49 fin.: “maritum filiae,” Plin. Ep. 1, 14, 1.—In pass.: “nisi si prospectum interea aliquid est, desertae vivimus,” Ter. Heaut. 2, 4, 11: “commeatus a praetore prospectos in hiemem habere,” Liv. 44, 16: “ad ferramenta prospicienda,” Cic. Sull. 19, 55.—Hence,
A. prōspĭcĭ-ens , entis, P. a., endowed with foresight, Gell. 2, 29, 1.—
B. prōspĭcĭenter , adv., providently, considerately, carefully (post-class.): “res prospicienter animadversas,” Gell. 2, 29, 1.—
C. prōspectē , adv., providently, deliberately, considerately, advisedly, prudently (post-class.): “decernere,” Tert. Apol. 6.—Sup.: “adhaerebit bono,” Aug. Ep. ad Maced. 55.
