different between prospective vs impending

English

Etymology

From Middle French prospectif, from Late Latin prospectivus

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p???sp?kt?v/
• Rhymes: -?kt?v

Adjective

prospective (not comparable)

1. Likely or expected to happen or become.

2. Anticipated in the near or far future.
3. Of or relating to a prospect; furnishing a prospect.
4. Looking forward in time; acting with foresight.
   • 1668-1690, Josiah Child, A new discourse of trade

     The French king, and the king of Sweden are […] circumspect, industrious, and prospective, too, in this affair.

5. (medicine, of research) A study that starts with the present situation and follows participants into the future
6. (grammar) Indicating grammatically an activity about to begin.

Translations

Noun

prospective (plural prospectives)

1. (obsolete) The scene before or around, in time or in space; view; prospect.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Sir H. Wotton to this entry?)

2. (obsolete) A perspective glass.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Chaucer to this entry?)
3. (informal, often plural) A prospective (potential) member, student, employee, date, partner, etc.
   • 2006, Verve: The Spirit of Today's Woman, volume 14, issues 4-6, page 114:

     At the moment, meeting interesting, 'could be, maybe not' prospectives around the globe keeps her entertained.

See also

• inchoative

References

• prospective at OneLook Dictionary Search
• prospective in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• prospective in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• prospective aspect on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

French

Adjective

prospective

1. feminine singular of prospectif

English

Etymology

From impend +? -ing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?p?nd??/

Adjective

impending (not comparable)

1. Approaching; drawing near; about to happen or expected to happen.

Synonyms

• imminent, in the offing, proximate; see also Thesaurus:impending

Related terms

Translations

Verb

impending

1. present participle of impend

   The hurricane is impending.

Noun

impending (plural impendings)

1. Something that impends or threatens; an expected event.
   • 1994, Steve Garvey, quoted in 2000, Nicholas Barnes, Ainin H. Garvey, The Lost Writings of Steve Garvey (page 23)

     Although I do think about death quite regularly, my intense fear of lesser impendings has taught me that the only way I will survive it is to remain objective […]