Anticipate v.

[f. prec., or on analogy of vbs. so formed. Cf. Fr. anticip-er (ad. L.) found in 14th c.]

  † 1.  To seize or take possession of beforehand. Obs.

1594.  T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 576. To anticipate signifieth as much as to prevent and to take before.

1623.  Bingham, Xenophon, 57. They feared the tops of the mountaines might be anticipated.

1783.  Cowper, Task, V. 723. To soar, and to anticipate the skies.

  2.  To use in advance; to spend (money) before it is at one’s disposal.

a. 1674.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. II. 103. To carry on that vast Expence, the Revenue of the Crown had been Anticipated.

1725.  De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 171. That the men might have something to buy clothes … without anticipating their wages.

1883.  Daily News, 8 Oct., 6/5. If you see a thing and want it, and have not the money to pay, do not anticipate your income to obtain it.

  3.  To take up or deal with (a thing), or perform (an action), before another person or agent has had time to act, so as to gain an advantage; to deal with beforehand, forestall (an action).

1605.  Shaks., Macb., IV. i. 144. Time, thou anticipatest my dread exploits.

1766.  Goldsm., Vic. Wakef., xxxix. He has anticipated the vengeance of heaven.

1864.  D. Mitchell, 7 Stories, 233. The Count anticipated their action.

  4.  To be before (another) in acting, to forestall.

a. 1682.  Sir T. Browne, Tracts, 55. The Barley, anticipating the wheat, might be in ear in February.

a. 1704.  T. Brown, Table T., Wks. 1730, I. 143. Whenever he met a creditor, never gave him leave to dun him first, but was sure to anticipate him.

1796.  C. Marshall, Gardening, xx. (1813), 423. Anticipate winter so as to put all in order.

1877.  Brockett, Cross & Cresc., 67. In many points on which the greatness of his reputation rests, he was anticipated by his predecessors.

  5.  To observe or practise in advance of the due date; to cause to happen earlier, accelerate.

1534.  More, On the Passion, Wks. 1557, 1308/1. Christe dyd anticipate the tyme of eatynge his Paschall lambe.

1625.  Meade, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. 307. III. 190. The funerall … is anticipated, and shall be on Thursday.

1751.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Anticipation, Anticipating a payment means the discharging it before it falls due.

1818.  Scott, Hrt. Midl. (1873), 17. To anticipate by half an hour the usual time of his arrival.

1819.  Byron, Juan, II. lii. Some leap’d overboard … As eager to anticipate their grave.

  † 6.  intr. To occur earlier, to advance in time. Obs.

1588.  A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., G viij. This calculation … maid y^e æquinoxe of springe tyme to anticipat swa mony dayes.

1594.  Blundevil, Exerc., III. I. xli. (ed. 7), 356. It [the year] doth anticipate in the space of foure yeeres one whole day.

1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 219. The Equinoxes had anticipated.

  b.  trans. To occur earlier than, precede. rare.

1855.  Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), IV. VII. vi. 172. They were eager … if their death anticipated the Last Day, to die in the Holy Land.

  7.  To take into consideration before the appropriate or due time. a. trans.

1532.  More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 1557, 532/1. Here haue I, wel beloued readers … to anticipate his woordes written in his other Chapiter.

1675.  Baxter, Cath. Theol., II. I. 127. You shall not again tempt me to anticipate the question of effectual Grace.

1796.  C. Marshall, Gardening, xii. (1813), 152. He is to anticipate consequences and provide for the future.

1865.  Seeley, Ecce Homo, v. (1866), 45. We have anticipated in a former chapter the means by which Christ avoided this result.

  b.  absol.

1700.  Dryden, Fables, Pref. (Globe), 497. I find I have anticipated already.

1794.  Sullivan, View Nat., I. 31. Of this, more hereafter; we must not anticipate.

  8.  trans. To realize beforehand (a certain future event).

1643.  Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. 41. I perceive I doe anticipate the vices of age.

1749.  Smollett, Regicide, V. vi. My fears Anticipate thy words!

1853.  C. Brontë, Villette, xxxvii. (1876), 421. Some real lives do … actually anticipate the happiness of Heaven.

  9.  To look forward to, look for (an uncertain event) as certain. Const. simple obj. or subord. cl.

1749.  Smollett, Regicide, III. vii. How my fir’d soul anticipates the joy!

1751.  Harris, Hermes (1841), 149. I anticipate a like orderly and diversified succession … in time future.

1839.  Keightley, Hist. Eng., II. 38. Those, not in the secret, anticipated an acquittal.

1858.  Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls., II. 85. He appeared to anticipate that flying will be a future mode of locomotion.