The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Anticipation \An*tic`i*pa"tion\
   ([a^]n`t[i^]s`[i^]*p[=a]"sh[u^]n), 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.
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            So shall my anticipation prevent your discovery.
                                                  --Shak.
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   2. Previous view or impression of what is to happen;
      instinctive prevision; foretaste; antepast; as, the
      anticipation of the joys of heaven.
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            The happy anticipation of renewed existence in
            company with the spirits of the just. --Thodey.
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   3. Hasty notion; intuitive preconception.
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            Many men give themselves up to the first
            anticipations of their minds.         --Locke.
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   4. (Mus.) The commencing of one or more tones of a chord with
      or during the chord preceding, forming a momentary
      discord.
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   Syn: Preoccupation; preclusion; foretaste; prelibation;
        antepast; pregustation; preconception; expectation;
        foresight; forethought.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

anticipation
    n 1: an expectation [syn: anticipation, 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: anticipation, expectancy]
    3: the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future)
       [syn: prediction, anticipation, prevision]
    4: anticipating with confidence of fulfillment [syn:
       anticipation, expectation]