respecto, āre, v. freq. n. and a. [respicio], to look back, look round or behind repeatedly or intently, to look or gaze about; to look at any thing (class.).
I Lit.
α Neutr. absol. : quid respectas? nihil pericli est, Ter. Ad. 157: ubi respectantes hostium antesignanos vidit, Liv. 8, 39; Quint. 12, 3, 2; Verg. A. 11, 630: respectans abit, Sil. 12, 729; Stat. Th. 3, 377: ad tribunal, Liv. 3, 48: respecto identidem, ne senex, etc., Plaut. Cas. 5, 2, 13; so, identidem, ne, id. Men. 1, 2, 51. — Poet.: leti janua patet immani et vasto respectat hiatu, Lucr. 5, 375.—
β Act. : dictatore arcem Romanam respectante, Liv. 4, 18, 6: funera respectans, Lucr. 6, 1234: sine fine Caesarem, Vell. 2, 107, 2: alium (alius), Tac. Agr. 37 fin. : suos, Sil. 11, 594.—
II Trop., to cast a look behind , to wait; to wait for , look for , expect; to care for , regard , respect.
α Neutr. : verum haec ita praetereamus, ut tamen intuentes et respectantes relinquamus, Cic. Sest. 5, 13: animus non me deserens, sed respectans in ea loca discessit, id. Sen. 23, 84: taciti respectabant somnoque sepulti, Dum, etc., i. e. waited , Lucr. 5, 974. —
β Act. : si qua pios respectant numina, regard , Verg. A. 1, 603: neque hoc liberis nostris interdicendum est, ne observent tribules suos ... ne par ab iis munus in suā petitione respectent, look for , expect , Cic. Planc. 18, 45: meum amorem, Cat. 11, 21.