Wish — Defs

01 v. i. To have a desire or yearning; to long; to hanker.

imp. & p. p. Wished; p. pr. & vb. n. 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.” — Acts xxvii. 29.

“This is as good an argument as an antiquary could wish for.” — Arbuthnot.

02 v. t. To desire; to long for; to hanker after; to have a mind or disposition toward.

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.” — Shak.

“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.” — Shak.

“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.]
“I would be glad to thrive, sir, And I was wished to your worship by a gentleman.” — B. Jonson.

Syn. See Desire.

03 n. Desire; eager desire; longing.

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.” — Shak.
3.
A thing desired; an object of desire.
“Will he, wise, let loose at once his ire . . . To give his enemies their wish!” — Milton.