WISH • E-FREE TRANSLATION.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

... permitted to lay before the general assembly, or municipal government, as well as the other citizens, the full extent of the king's concessions. Amnesty for the past, confirmation of the city's privileges, passports for any who might wish to remove to England or Germany, safe return for those whom fear had banished, free exercise of the Protestant religion in two quarters of the city, with three ministers to be chosen by the people and approved by the governor—all this he offered. On the other hand, a new church must ...

— History of the Rise of the Huguenots - Volume 2 • Henry Baird

... misgave him, and even for a moment he forgot to play. He by no means wished to delegate to his son-in-law his place and authority of warden; he had expressly determined not to interfere in any step which the men might wish to take in the matter under dispute; he was most anxious neither to accuse them nor to defend himself. All these things he was aware the archdeacon would do in his behalf, and that not in the mildest manner; and yet he knew not how ...

— The Warden • Anthony Trollope

... emphasis, "I have taken possession of the weapons which you took from men of the upper world, and which have already sent men of your race to their death. I have no wish to kill either you or your caciques, but if you do not presently discuss peace with me, you will certainly find yourself embroiled in a struggle more bitter than the ...

— Astounding Stories of Super-Science, December 1930 • Various

... was out of his body, Mr. Jones felt that his duty was discharged, that other duties called him home. He promised to return to read the burial-service over the deceased, gave some hasty orders about the plain funeral, and was turning from the room, when he saw the letter he had written by Caleb's wish, still on the table. "I pass the post-office—I'll put it in," said he to the weeping servant; "and just give me that scrap of paper." So he wrote on the scrap, "P. S. He died this morning at half-past twelve, without pain.—M. J.;" and not taking the trouble to break the ...

— Night and Morning, Complete • Edward Bulwer-Lytton

... and Degas, who in their turn doubtless dutifully.... Meanwhile why should art have gone on evolving, artists gone on making filiations of schools, if art, if artists, if schools of artists had not answered an imperious, undying wish for the special pleasures which painting ...

— Renaissance Fancies and Studies - Being a Sequel to Euphorion • Violet Paget (AKA Vernon Lee)

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