prospective
UK: prəˈspektɪv | US: prəˈspektɪv
adj. relating to or effective in the future
adj. likely to happen or become
adj. potential or expected
The word "prospective" originates from Latin prospectivus, derived from prospicere ("to look forward"). The morpheme pro- (forward) combines with spect- (from specere, "to look"), reflecting the idea of "looking ahead." The suffix -ive forms adjectives, giving the modern sense of "pertaining to the future." This logical progression—from literal vision to metaphorical foresight—captures the word's evolution.
The company evaluated prospective employees during the interview process.
She studied hard to secure a prospective scholarship.
The report analyzed prospective market trends for the next decade.
His prospective promotion depends on this project's success.
Investors weigh both current and prospective returns before committing funds.