retrospect

plural retrospects

1. Consideration of past times.

   Whether, like Colin, in retrospect Willie Lee and Baptist would feel that what has vanished was greater than what was achieved, is not something we can predict.

   1976, Terry Kay, The Year the Lights Came On, University of Georgia Press, published 1989, →ISBN, page 298

   1 more example

   My mind, calmer and stronger now than last night, made for itself some imperious rules, prohibiting under deadly penalties all weak retrospect of happiness past; commanding a patient journeying through the wilderness of the present...

   1853, Charlotte Bronte, Villette

   Antonyms: prospect

present singular third person retrospects · participle present retrospecting · participle past retrospected · past retrospected

1. To look or refer back to; to reflect on.

   To give a correct idea of the circumstances which have gradually produced this conviction, it may be useful to retrospect to an early period.

   1800 October 24, Alexander Hamilton, “Letter from Alexander Hamilton, Concerning the Public Conduct and Character of John Adams, Esq. President of the United States”, in Harold C. Syrett, editor, The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, volumes 25, July 1800 – April 1802, New York: Columbia University Press, published 1962, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 187