1430, "act of looking into the distance," from L. prospectus "view, outlook," prop. pp. of prospicere "look out on, look forward," from pro- "forward" + specere "look at" (see scope (1)). Meaning "extensive view of the landscape" is from 1538; transf. sense of "mental view or survey" is from 1625. Sense of "person or thing considered promising" is from 1922. Verbal meaning "explore for gold" is first recorded 1841, from noun sense of "spot giving prospects of ore" (1839). Prospector in this sense is from 1857. Prospects "expectations" is from 1665; prospective in sense of "hoped for" is first recorded 1829.