to want; desire: [~ +to + verb]I wish to stay here.[~ + object + to + verb]I wish him to obey.
to desire (a person or thing) to be as stated, even if it is impossible: [~ + object (+to +be) +adjective]We wished the matter (to be) settled.[~ + (that) clause]We wished that the matter would be settled.
to express a hope or desire for:[no object;(~ +for)]She closed her eyes and wished for peace on earth.
to bid, as in greeting:[~ + object + object]I wished her a good morning.
wish on:
[often with a negative word or phrase; ~ + object + on + object] to pass or desire to pass (something unwanted or bad) to another:I wouldn't wish this awful weather on my worst enemy.
Also, wish upon.to use as a magical charm while making a wish:to wish upon a star.
to want; desire; long for (usually fol. by an infinitive or a clause):I wish to travel. I wish that it were morning.
to desire (a person or thing) to be (as specified):to wish the problem settled.
to entertain wishes, favorably or otherwise, for:to wish someone well; to wish someone ill.
to bid, as in greeting or leave-taking:to wish someone a good morning.
to request or charge:I wish him to come.
v.i.
to desire; long; yearn (often fol. by for):Mother says I may go if I wish. I wished for a book.
to make a wish:She wished more than she worked.
wish on:
to force or impose (usually used in the negative):I wouldn't wish that awful job on my worst enemy.
Also, wish upon. to make a wish using some object as a magical talisman:to wish on a star.
n.
an act or instance of wishing.
a request or command:I was never forgiven for disregarding my father's wishes.
an expression of a wish, often one of a kindly or courteous nature:to send one's best wishes.
something wished or desired:He got his wish--a new car.
bef. 900; (verb, verbal) Middle English wisshen, Old English wȳscan; cognate with German wünschen, Old Norse æskja; akin to Old English wynn joy (see winsome), Latin venus charm (see Venus); (noun, nominal) Middle English, derivative of the verb, verbal
wish′er, n. wish′less, adj.
1. crave. Wish,desire,want indicate a longing for something. To wish is to feel an impulse toward attainment or possession of something; the strength of the feeling may be of greater or lesser intensity:I wish I could go home.Desire, a more formal word, suggests a strong wish:They desire a new regime.Want, usually colloquial in use, suggests a feeling of lack or need that imperatively demands fulfillment:People all over the world want peace.5. direct, order. 8. will, want.
whentr, takes a clause as object or an infinitive; when intr, often followed by for: to want or desire (something, often that which cannot be or is not the case): I wish I lived in Italy, to wish for peace
(transitive) to feel or express a desire or hope concerning the future or fortune of: I wish you well
(transitive) to desire or prefer to be as specified
(transitive) to greet as specified; bid: he wished us good afternoon
n
the act of wishing; the expression of some desire or mental inclination
something desired or wished for: he got his wish
(usually plural) expressed hopes or desire, esp for someone's welfare, health, etc
(often plural) formala polite order or request
Etymology: Old English wӯscan; related to Old Norse öskja, German wünschen, Dutch wenschenˈwishern
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