Studies in the Lexical Field of Expectation (Costerus New Series)

Studies in the Lexical Field of Expectation presents a classification by conceptual field of the vocabulary expressing the ideas in the semantic field of Expectation. The field divides into eleven categories including Surprise, Disappointment, Hope, Fear, Caution, Courage, and Rashness. The categories, subcategories of the field and the lexical items are ordered hierarchically and each sense is followed by its dates of usage.

The book discusses the method and methodology of constructing the classification examining the delimitation of the field, the choice of headwords, the process of classifying the materials, and the use and presentation of grammatical information within a semantic classification. The proportions of loan words and native terms within each conceptual group are investigated and it examines the patterns of accessions and obsolescences across the centuries from Old English to the present day.