Expectantly

/ɪkˈspɛktəntli/ adverb

Definition

In a manner showing that you are waiting for something or hopeful about what will happen.

Etymology

From expectant (full of expectation, anticipatory) plus -ly. Expectant comes from Latin expectans, the present participle of expectare, meaning 'watching for.'

Kelly Says

The phrase 'expectant mother' uses this same root—she's full of expectation about the baby. You can see someone being 'expectantly' silent, or listen 'expectantly' to someone's news. It conveys emotion in a single adverb.

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