WISH • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Wish

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/wɪʃ/ Listen

verb

Wish v. t.

1.

To desire; to long for; to hanker after; to have a mind or disposition toward. "I would not wish Any companion in the world but you." "I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper."

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." "I wish it may not prove some ominous foretoken of misfortune to have met with such a miser as I am." "Let them be driven backward, and put to shame, that wish me evil."

3.

To recommend; to seek confidence or favor in behalf of. (Obs.) "I would be glad to thrive, sir, And I was wished to your worship by a gentleman."

Synonyms: See Desire.

Wish v. i. (past & past part. wished; pres. part. wishing)

1.

To have a desire or yearning; to long; to hanker. "They cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day." "This is as good an argument as an antiquary could wish for."

noun

Wish n.

1.

Desire; eager desire; longing. "Behold, I am according to thy wish in God a stead."

2.

Expression of desire; request; petition; hence, invocation or imprecation. "Blistered be thy tongue for such a wish."

3.

A thing desired; an object of desire. "Will he, wise, let loose at once his ire... To give his enemies their wish!"

See images of 'Wish'

Etymology of 'Wish'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Wish" Quotes from Famous Books

... On November 4 Jackson's wish was partially granted. He was assigned to the command of the Shenandoah Valley District, embracing the northern part of the area between the Alleghanies and the Blue Ridge. The order was received with gratitude, but dashed by the fact that he had to depart ...

— Stonewall Jackson And The American Civil War • G. F. R. Henderson

... terrible conflagration has extended to our beloved Italy. While our hearts bleed at the sight of so much misery," he wrote, "we have not neglected to continue our work for relief and the diminution of the deplorable consequences of war. I wish that the echo of our voice might reach to all our children affected by the great scourge of war, and persuade all of them of our participation in their troubles and sorrows. There is little of the grief of the child that ...

— The Story of the Great War, Volume III (of VIII) - History of the European War from Official Sources • Various

... 'I wish the youngster did not look so serious,' said Fred, after his brother had gone to bed ...

— That Scholarship Boy • Emma Leslie

... But you must take it in moderation if you wish to benefit from it and escape illness. Used intelligently sugar is an excellent food, but of course you must prescribe it for yourself in the proper proportions," laughed Mr. Hennessey. "We all constantly take more or less sugar into our systems through the ordinary ...

— The Story of Sugar • Sara Ware Bassett

... "I often wish I did. It would add several inches to one's stature to feel that the mouth of one's burrow was graced with a Latin inscription for admiring strangers to ponder over. No; my chambers are some doors further down—number 6A"—and he turned to point out the ...

— The Red Thumb Mark • R. Austin Freeman

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