n. A review or contemplation of things in the past: "He pursed his lips in the exercise of a retrospect across the years" (Flann O'Brien). v. ret·ro·spect·ed, ret·ro·spect·ing, ret·ro·spects v.intr. To think about the past. v.tr. Idiom: To look back on or think about (things past). in retrospect In looking back on or reviewing the past. [From Latin *retrōspectus, past participle of retrōspicere, to look back at : retrō-, retro- + specere, to look at; see spek- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] ret′ro·spection n. |
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