Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Anticipation \An*tic`i*pa"tion\, n. [L. anticipatio: cf. F.
   anticipation.]
   1. The act of anticipating, taking up, placing, or
      considering something beforehand, or before the proper
      time in natural order.

            So shall my anticipation prevent your discovery.
                                                  --Shak.

   2. Previous view or impression of what is to happen;
      instinctive prevision; foretaste; antepast; as, the
      anticipation of the joys of heaven.

            The happy anticipation of renewed existence in
            company with the spirits of the just. --Thodey.

   3. Hasty notion; intuitive preconception.

            Many men give themselves up to the first
            anticipations of their minds.         --Locke.

   4. (Mus.) The commencing of one or more tones of a chord with
      or during the chord preceding, forming a momentary
      discord.

   Syn: Preoccupation; preclusion; foretaste; prelibation;
        antepast; pregustation; preconception; expectation;
        foresight; forethought.

Source : WordNet®

anticipation
     n 1: pleasurable expectation [syn: {expectancy}]
     2: something expected (as on the basis of a norm); "each of
        them had their own anticipations"; "an indicator of
        expectancy in development" [syn: {expectancy}]
     3: the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future)
        [syn: {prediction}, {prevision}]
     4: some early entity whose type or style anticipates a later
        one; "there were many anticipations of Darwinian theory";
        "the hour glass was an anticipation of the clock"
     5: wishing with confidence of fulfillment [syn: {expectation}]