Hacks maybe look forward to lectures (14)

I believe the answer is:

expectorations

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'hacks' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.

'look forward to lectures' is the wordplay.
'look forward to' becomes 'expect' (synonyms).
'lectures' becomes 'orations' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'expect'+'orations'='EXPECTORATIONS'

'maybe' is the link.

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I've seen this clue in The Times.

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