word choice - When to use "expectative" instead of "expectation"?


I'm not a native English speaker and here in Brazil we have the word "expectativa" as a noun.


The expectative in English is defined as an adjective: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/expectative


But I haven't see yet the usage in this form, rather we see "expectation", which act as the Portuguese "expectativa" (expectation). We do have this word as adjective "expectante" as is the "expectant" in English, but not the "expectative" form.


So, in which case we use "expectative"?


EDITED: I've googled and found this one: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05712b.htm



An expectative, or an expectative grace, is the anticipatory grant of an ecclesiastical benefice, not vacant at the moment but which will become so, regularly, on the death of its present incumbent.



And this one: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X96000770



Expectative land rights, house consolidation and cemetery squatting: Some perspectives from Central Java



Can you clarify?



Answer



The best advice is 'Don't use it'. Your first example is a technical term in canon law, and there are various obsolete or obsolescent contexts where it can be used; but most English-speakers think (correctly), that the adjective from 'expect' is 'expectant' (for the person expecting) or 'expected'.


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