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   an·tic·i·pate

   /anˈtisəˌpāt/

   verb

   • 1. regard as probable; expect or predict: "she anticipated scorn on her return to the theater" Similar expectforeseepredictthink likelyforecastprophesyforetellcontemplate the possibility ofallow forbe prepared forcount onbank onlook forbargain oninformal:reckon onfigure onarchaic:apprehend
   • ▪ guess or be aware of (what will happen) and take action in order to be prepared: "they failed to anticipate a full scale invasion" Similar preemptforestallinterceptsecond-guessinformal:beat someone to itbeat someone to the drawbeat someone to the punch
   • ▪ look forward to: "Stephen was eagerly anticipating the break from the routine of business" Similar look forward toawaitcount the days untilinformal:lick one's lips overOpposite dread
   • 2. act as a forerunner or precursor of: "he anticipated Bates's theories on mimicry and protective coloration" Similar foreshadowprecedeantedatecome/go beforebe earlier than
   • ▪ come or take place before (an event or process expected or scheduled for a later time): "this is to anticipate the argument"
   • ▪ act before (someone) in expectation of what they will do; forestall: "I'm sorry, go on. I did not mean to anticipate you"

   Word Origin mid 16th century (in the senses ‘to take something into consideration’, ‘mention something before the proper time’): from Latin anticipat- ‘acted in advance’, from anticipare, based on ante- ‘before’ + capere ‘take’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. anticipative adjective
   • 2. anticipator noun

   Scrabble Points: 14

   • A

     1

   • N

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   • T

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   • I

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   • C

     3

   • I

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   • P

     3

   • A

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   • T

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   • E

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