1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Prospectus

PROSPECTUS (Lat. for view, look-out, prospect, from prospicere, to look forward), a written or printed preliminary announcement of some undertaking, giving the scheme or plan, the principal features, &c. In law, the term is specifically applied to the invitation issued to the public by a company to subscribe for shares in the enterprise for which the company is formed (see Company).