a. and sb. [ad. late L. ex(s)pectātīvus, f. ex(s)pectāre to EXPECT.]
1. Of or pertaining to expectation.
a. Canon law. Reversionary; of or pertaining to the reversion of benefices, etc. Expectative grace: a mandate given by the pope or king conferring the expectation or right of succession to a benefice.
1488. Sc. Acts Jas. IV. (1814), 210. Quhat tym it be declarit that ony persone or personis be gracis expectativis [printed expectavis] acceptis or purchessis ony beneficez [etc.].
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 365 b. Bishops of Rome … by reseruations and graces expectatiue, as they name them, haue deriued all the gaine to Rome.
1615. T. Mason, Christ’s Vict., 148. That expectatiue Aduousons are graunted without number.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., Expectative Canons were such as did not officiate in the Canonries to which they belonged. Ibid., In France … the right of conferring expectative graces, is looked on as one of the regalia.
1769. Robertson, Chas. V., II. II. 112. Expectative graces … were brought into use.
† b. gen. Of prospective effect. Obs.
1630. S. Ward, in Ussher’s Lett. (1686), 440. Ablution of infants from original sin is only conditional and expectative.
1653. H. Whistler, Upshot Inf. Baptism, 17. The Covenant of baptism holding out such expectative grace of Repentance.
2. Characterized by waiting for events; = EXPECTANT A. 1, 1 b.
1611. Cotgr., Expectatif, -ive, expectative.
1689. G. Harvey, Curing Dis. by Expect., xxiii. 206. To give you an instance of its expectative mode of curing.
1847. in Craig.
1870. Daily News, 11 Oct., 5/6. ‘We are preserving,’ they say, ‘a dignified expectative attitude.’
B. sb.
† 1. Something in expectation; an expectancy; = EXPECTATION 6. Obs.
a. 1528. Skelton, Image Hypocr., Wks. II. 343. His expectatives Many a man unthrives.
1618. Wotton, Lett., in Reliq. Wotton. (1672), 486. I am abundantly satisfied in some Expectatives.
c. 1631. Donne, Serm., xii. (1640), 119. And though Blessednesse seeme to be but an expectative, a reversion reserved to the next Life.
1758. Chesterf., Lett., IV. 137. He is young enough to forgive and to be forgiven the possession and the expectative at least for some years.
2. = Expectative grace (see A. 1).
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 4/1. The … reservations, expectatives, and such other proceedings of the popes pretended jurisdiction.
1616. N. Brent, trans. Sarpi’s Counc. Trent (1676), 714. Expectatives or Advowsons,… did make the incumbents death to be desired.
1725. trans. Dupin’s Eccl. Hist. 17th C., I. II. iii. 47. The Council of Basle … abolish’d the Expectatives … and all the other exactions of the Court of Rome.
1818. Hallam, Mid. Ages (1872), II. 213. Gregory IX. pretended to act generously in limiting himself to a single expectative.
1838. Prescott, Ferd. & Is., II. 475. Ximenes obtained a papal bull, or expectative, preferring him to the first benefice … which should become vacant.
