to fix (a time, date, etc.); to set
to expect; to hope for; to look forward to; to foresee; to anticipate
to resolve (to do); to decide upon; to prepare for; to promise; to pledge
「期す」 has another reading with different meanings.
彼は来年の優勝を期す。
He pledges to win next year's championship.
再会を期して、彼らは別れた。
They parted, pledging to meet again.
読者への約束を胸に、次期での刊行を期した。
With a promise to readers, he pledged publication in the next term.