Lewis & Short

prospecto, āvi, ātum, 1, v. freq. a. [prospicio], to look forth upon, look out; to look at, view, behold, see afar off, gaze upon: mare, Cic. Att. 9, 10, 2.

  1. 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.
    1. B. Transf.
      1. 1. To look around or about: prospectare, ne uspiam insidiae sient, Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 2.
      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.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. 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.
    2. B. To await, impend over, threaten one: te quoque fata Prospectant paria, Verg. A. 10, 741.
    3. C. To foresee (post-class.): prospectandi cognitio, App. Dogm. Plat. 2, p. 24, 35.