retrospect

[re-truh-spekt] /ˈrɛ trəˌspɛkt/
noun
1.
contemplation of the past; a survey of past time, events, etc.
verb (used without object)
2.
to look back in thought; refer back (often followed by to):
to retrospect to a period in one's youth.
verb (used with object)
3.
to look back upon; contemplate retrospectively.
Idioms
4.
in retrospect, in looking back on past events; upon reflection:
It was, in retrospect, the happiest day of her life.
Origin
1595-1605; probably retro- + (pro)spect
Examples from the web for retrospect
  • But in retrospect, maybe he fixed his sights a little too rigidly on an arbitrary calendar date.
  • However harmless they are in retrospect, they never fail to startle, always causing me to pause and look around.
  • Our cars and factories had clearly triggered a worldwide reaction, which in retrospect shouldn't surprise us.
  • In retrospect, he viewed this journey as a dedicated work of art and forswore himself to only creating art from his walks.
  • Again, this is not law but in retrospect it might have been sensible.
  • First, in retrospect, it's probably a bad idea to use an art museum for any kind of all-you-can-drink event.
  • In retrospect, maybe the dearth of scientific references in this article should have hinted as to its status.
  • The procedure was used-and in retrospect greatly overused-as a treatment for a wide range of psychiatric disorders.
  • retrospect will be a safer basis of judgment than promises.
  • Head was a movie that had nowhere to go except down, but in retrospect, doesn't seem all that bad.
British Dictionary definitions for retrospect

retrospect

/ˈrɛtrəʊˌspɛkt/
noun
1.
the act of surveying things past (often in the phrase in retrospect)
verb (archaic)
2.
to contemplate (anything past); look back on (something)
3.
(intransitive) often foll by to. to refer
Word Origin
C17: from Latin retrōspicere to look back, from retro- + specere to look
Word Origin and History for retrospect
n.

c.1600, "a regard or reference" (to something), from Latin retrospectum, past participle of retrospicere "look back," from retro- "back" (see retro-) + specere "look at" (see scope (n.1)). Meaning "survey of past events" is from 1660s.