Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Wish
Wish
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Wished
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Wishing
.] [OE. , and cf.
wischen
, weschen
, wuschen
, AS. w[GREEK]scan
; akin to D. wenschen
, G. wünschen
, Icel. æeskja
, Dan. önske
, Sw. önska
; from AS. w[GREEK]sc
a wish; akin to OD. & G. wunsch
, OHG. wunsc
, Icel. [GREEK]sk
, Skr. vā[GREEK]chā
a wish, vā[GREEK]ch
to wish; also to Skr. van
to like, to wish. [GREEK]. See Winsome
, Win
, Verb.
T.
Wistful
.] 1.
To have a desire or yearning; to long; to hanker.
They cast four anchors out of the stern, and
wished
for the day. Acts xxvii. 29.
This is as good an argument as an antiquary could
wish
for. Arbuthnot.
Wish
,Verb.
T.
1.
To desire; to long for; to hanker after; to have a mind or disposition toward.
I would not
Any companion in the world but you.
wish
Any companion in the world but you.
Shakespeare
I
wish
above all things that thou mayest prosper. 3. John 2.
2.
To frame or express desires concerning; to invoke in favor of, or against, any one; to attribute, or cal down, in desire; to invoke; to imprecate.
I would not
wish
them to a fairer death. Shakespeare
I
wish
it may not prove some ominous foretoken of misfortune to have met with such a miser as I am. Sir P. Sidney.
Let them be driven backward, and put to shame, that
wish
me evil. Ps. xl. 14.
3.
To recommend; to seek confidence or favor in behalf of.
[Obs.]
Shak.
I would be glad to thrive, sir,
And I was
And I was
wished
to your worship by a gentleman. B. Jonson.
Syn. – See
Desire
. Wish
,Noun.
1.
Desire; eager desire; longing.
Behold, I am according to thy
wish
in God a stead. Job xxxiii. 6.
2.
Expression of desire; request; petition; hence, invocation or imprecation.
Blistered be thy tongue for such a
wish
. Shakespeare
3.
A thing desired; an object of desire.
Will he, wise, let loose at once his ire . . .
To give his enemies their
To give his enemies their
wish
! Milton.
Webster 1828 Edition
Wish
WISH
,Verb.
I.
1.
To have a desire, or strong desire, either for what is or is not supposed to be obtainable. It usually expresses less than long; but sometimes it denotes to long or wise earnestly. We often wise for what is not obtainable.This is as good an argument as an antiquary could wish for.
They have more than heart could wish. Psalm 73.
I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper. 3 John 2.
They cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. Acts 27.
2.
To be disposed or inclined; as, to wish well to anothers affairs.3.
It sometimes partakes of hope or fear. I wish the event may prove fortunate, or less calamitous than we apprehend.WISH
,Verb.
T.
1.
To desire. I wish your prosperity.Let them be driven backward and put to shame, that wish me evil. Psalm 40.
2.
To long for; to desire eagerly or ardently. It has this sense when expressed with emphasis.3.
To recommend by wishing.I would not wish them to a fairer death.
4.
To imprecate; as, to wish curses on an enemy.5.
To ask; to express desire.WISH
,Noun.
1.
Desire; sometimes, eager desire. Job 33.2.
Desire expressed. Blisterd be thy tongue for such a wish.
3.
Thing desired. He has his wish.The difference between wish and desire seems to be, that desire is directed to what is obtainable, and a wish may be directed to what is obtainable or not.