An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Statistics: Same as → mathematical expectation, → expected value.

Etymology (EN): From L. expectare “to await, hope,” from → ex- “thoroughly” + spectare “to look,” from → specere “to look at,” → -scope.

Etymology (PE): Bayusesš, verbal noun of bayusidan “to expect;” Mid.Pers. pyws- “to hope for, desire” (prefixed *pati-); O.Pers. vasiy “at will, greatly, utterly,” vašna- “will, favor;” Av. vas- “to will, desire, wish, long for,” vasəmi “I wish,” vasna- “will, favor,” ušti- “desire, wish, will,” vasô, vasə “at one’s will.” This word is extant in several Mod.Pers. dialects, Tabari vessen “to wish, desire,” Gilaki vâssan “to wish, desire,” vâsti “desire,” Kurd. wistin “to desire, wish,” Lâri avessa “to desire,” colloquial Tehrâni vâsé “for” (Mid.Pers. vasnâd “because”);
cf. Skt. vaś- “to wish, want, desire,” váśa- “wish, desire,” vasēna “for, because;” Gk. ekon “voluntary;” PIE base *uek- “to wish.”