outlook

Etymology 1

From out- + look.

noun

1. A place from which something can be viewed.
   Perched on the edge of the cliff was a hidden outlook.
   1667, Edward Waterhouse, A Short Narrative of the Late Dreadful Fire in London, London: Richard Thrale et al., p. 97, This fetched tears from the innocent eyes, those Casements and out-looks of the tender heart of our Lord Jesus, who beholding the City Ierusalem wept over it,
2. The view from such a place.
   Fully air-conditioned and fluorescently lit, it is strikingly decorated and there is a magnificent outlook through the wide windows. 1960 December, “Modern lightweight coaches of the Swiss Federal Railways”, in Trains Illustrated, page 745, photo caption
3. An attitude or point of view.
   He has a positive outlook on life.
4. Expectation for the future.
   The outlook for temperature rises is worrying.

verb

1. (intransitive, archaic, literary) To face or look in an outward direction.
   1610, Gervase Markham, Markhams Maister-peece, or, What Doth a Horse-man Lack? London, Chapter 103 “Certaine speciall Notes to be obserued in buying of a horse,” pp. 204-205, … marke his colour and his shape, that is to say, a comely well proportioned head, with an outlooking eye, good well raised shoulders, and a thicke large breast …
   A Towre … is, or ought to be … mounted with bulwarks, towred with turrets, battailed for out-looking artillerie, enclosed with ditches … 1622, Samuel Purchas, The Kings Towre and Triumphant Arch of London, London, published 1623, pages 32–33
   … would we look at the rooms? Outlooking on the piazza, with a balcony from which we could observe the Festa of to-morrow. 1895, Henry van Dyke, “Alpenrosen and Goat’s Milk”, in Little Rivers, New York: Scribner, page 150
2. (transitive, archaic) To look at (someone) so long or intently that they look away; to win or prevail over (someone or something).
   Who should outlooke his mate amaz’d:
   … the news of the judgment to come, in the Preachers mouth, will be under an heavy suspicion of fraud and cheat, and in fine, pass but for fictions … too weak to outlook a brave glittering temptation: 1645, Henry Hammond, XXXI Sermons Preached on Several Occasions, London: Richard Royston, published 1684, Sermon 8, p. 519
   Once or twice he attempted to outlook the Saxon prisoner, but Hereward shrank not beneath his glance … 1838, Thomas Miller, chapter 37, in Royston Gower, London: W. Nicholson, page 329
   The pain which the king suffered would have softened any ordinary heart; but the murderer was a hard and callous wretch, and his brazen eyes outlooked the king. 1911, Henry Gilbert, chapter 11, in King Arthur’s Knights: The Tales Retold for Boys & Girls, Edinburgh & London: T.C. & E.C. Jack, page 299
3. (transitive, obsolete) To be more attractive than (someone or something).
   1731, Mary Delany, letter dated 4 October, 1731, in George Paston (ed.), Mrs. Delany (Mary Granville): A Memoir, 1700-1788, London: Grant Richards, 1900, p. 64, Nobody’s equipage outlooked ours except my Lord Lieutenant’s, but in every respect I must say Mrs. Clayton outshines her neighbours …
   1793, Hester Piozzi, letter dated 22 May, 1793, in Oswald G. Knapp (ed.), The Intimate Letters of Hester Piozzi and Penelope Pennington, 1788-1821, London: The Bodley Head, 1914, p. 89, … Sally quite outlooked her sister by the bye, and was very finely drest.
   1862, B. F. Taylor, diary entry dated 5 November, 1862, in E. R. Hutchins (ed.), The War of the Sixties, New York: The Neale Publishing Company, 1912, p. 36, Burnside, handsome, stately, outlooked his chief on horseback as on foot.
4. (transitive, obsolete) To inspect throughly; to select.
   1689, Charles Cotton, “The Angler’s Ballad” in Poems on Several Occasions, London: Thomas Bassett et al., p. 76, Away to the Brook, All your Tackle out look, Here’s a day that is worth a year’s wishing; See that all things be right, For ’tis a very spight To want tools when a man goes a fishing.
5. (transitive, obsolete) To look beyond (something).
   … to fit minds to so even a temper, that both should round the same circle, and never out-look the Horizon of their reciprocal Interest, is a work altogether impossible. 1680, John Yalden, Compendium Politicum, or, The Distempers of Government, London: Robert Clavel, page 54

Etymology 2

table From out + look. Perhaps influenced by Chinese 外表 (literally “outside + surface”) and English look (“appearance”). Same etymology as Cantonese outlook.

noun

1. (Hong Kong, colloquial) look; appearance
   How ignorant you are! Admiring the outlook of a same sex person has nothing to do with gay! Some of my male friends admire Andy Lau's and Leslie Cheung's looks quite a lot, but unfortunately, they are NOT gay, not BI, they are totally STRAIGHT! 14-03-1996, Bugs, soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment (Usenet)
   Well, first impression strikes. The other half must be somewhat attractive on the outlook to capture you attention ...... how else would you noptice his/her existance? Agree? 07-08-1996, JT, soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment (Usenet)
   Find some wooden block under the box to separate it with the ground, do the same to the wire if possible. But the wood is another concern then. May be get a concrete brick la if you can accept its outlook. 07-10-1998, Felix M.C. Li, hk.rec.audio-visual (Usenet)
   If you accept the sound of Emsemble Reference. I am sure you will like Primaddona Gold. The Primaddona Gold is much better than the Reference in every aspect. The only draw back is probably the out-look, some people, including my mother, said it look like a coffin. 19-12-1998, and...@my-dejanews.com, hk.rec.audio-visual (Usenet)
   Walla-walla was at first nick-named by the European passengers as the engine of the vessel was very noisy. The outlook of the walla-walla (Class 1 motorboat) did not change much in the past decades. The wooden hull, the below-loadline cabin (ie without deck) and the engine in the front part of the cabin were characteristics of these boats. 28-11-2000, Choi Kim Lui, “The Development of Motorboat Services in Hong Kong”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)