expectancy

 
Pronunciation: /ɪkˈspɛkt(ə)nsi, ɛk-/

noun (plural expectancies)

[mass noun]
  • the state of thinking or hoping that something, especially something good, will happen: they waited with an air of expectancy [count noun]: our expectancies about the future

Origin:

early 17th century: from Latin exspectantia, from exspectare 'look out for' (see expect)