4 definitions found

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

wish

noun

1: a specific feeling of desire; "he got his wish"; "he was above all wishing and desire" [syn: {wishing}, {want}]

2: an expression of some desire or inclination; "I could tell that it was his wish that the guests leave"; "his crying was an indirect request for attention" [syn: {indirect request}]

3: (usually plural) a polite expression of desire for someone's welfare; "give him my kind regards"; "my best wishes" [syn: {regard}, {compliments}]

4: the particular preference that you have; "it was his last wish"; "they should respect the wishes of the people"

verb

1: hope for; have a wish; "I wish I could go home now"

2: prefer or wish to do something; "Do you care to try this dish?"; "Would you like to come along to the movies?" [syn: {care}, {like}]

3: have in mind; "I will take the exam tomorrow" [syn: {will}]

4: make or express a wish; "I wish that Christmas were over"

5: feel or express a desire or hope concerning the future or fortune of [syn: {wish well}] [ant: {begrudge}]

6: order politely; express a wish for

7: invoke upon; "wish you a nice evening"; "bid farewell" [syn: {bid}]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:

Wish \Wish\, verb (used with an object)

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.] --Shak.

I would be glad to thrive, sir, And I was wished to your worship by a gentleman. --B. Jonson.

Syn: See {Desire}.

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:

Wish \Wish\, verb (used without an object) [imp. & p. p. {Wished}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Wishing}.] [OE. wischen, weschen, wuschen, AS. w?scan; akin to D. wenschen, G. w["u]nschen, Icel. [ae]eskja, Dan. ["o]nske, Sw. ["o]nska; from AS. w?sc a wish; akin to OD. & G. wunsch, OHG. wunsc, Icel. ?sk, Skr. v[=a]?ch[=a] a wish, v[=a]?ch to wish; also to Skr. van to like, to wish. ?. See {Winsome}, {Win}, verb (used with an object), and cf. {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.

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:

Wish \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. --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.
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