retrospect
[ re-truh-spekt ]
/ ˈrɛ trəˌspɛkt /
noun
contemplation of the past; a survey of past time, events, etc.
verb (used without object)
to look back in thought; refer back (often followed by to): to retrospect to a period in one's youth.
verb (used with object)
to look back upon; contemplate retrospectively.
Idioms for retrospect
in retrospect,
in looking back on past events; upon reflection: It was, in retrospect, the happiest day of her life.
Origin of retrospect
1595–1605; probably
retro- +
(pro)spect
Words nearby retrospect
British Dictionary definitions for in retrospect
retrospect
/ (ˈrɛtrəʊˌspɛkt) /
noun
the act of surveying things past (often in the phrase in retrospect)
verb archaic
to contemplate (anything past); look back on (something)
(intr often foll by to)
to refer
Word Origin for retrospect
C17: from Latin
retrōspicere to look back, from
retro- +
specere to look
Idioms and Phrases with in retrospect
in retrospect
Looking backward, reflecting on the past. For example, In retrospect, he regarded his move as the best thing he'd ever done. This idiom employs retrospect in the sense of “a view of the past.” [Second half of 1600s]