Retrospect

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈrÉ›troËŒspÉ›kt/

Origin

Latin retrōspectum, from retrōspicio ("to look back at").

Full definition of retrospect

Noun

1. consideration of past times
• 1853, Charlotte Bronte, "Villette":My mind, calmer and stronger now than last night, made for itself some imperious rules, prohibiting under deadly penalties all weak retrospect of happiness past; commanding a patient journeying through the wilderness of the present...
• 1976, Terry Kay, The Year the Lights Came On, 1989 edition, ISBN 0820311286, page 298:Whether, like Colin, in retrospect Willie Lee and Baptist would feel that what has vanished was greater than what was achieved, is not something we can predict.

Antonyms

• prospect

Derived terms

• in retrospect

Verb

1. To look or refer back to; to reflect on
• 1804: Alexander Hamilton, Letter to John Adams (Bartlett) - To give a correct idea of the circumstances.., it may be useful to retrospect to an early period.