Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Desire \De*sire"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Desired}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Desiring}.] [F. d['e]sirer, L. desiderare, origin
   uncertain, perh. fr. de- + sidus star, constellation, and
   hence orig., to turn the eyes from the stars. Cf. {Consider},
   and {Desiderate}, and see {Sidereal}.]
   1. To long for; to wish for earnestly; to covet.

            Neither shall any man desire thy land. --Ex. xxxiv.
                                                  24.

            Ye desire your child to live.         --Tennyson.

   2. To express a wish for; to entreat; to request.

            Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? --2
                                                  Kings iv. 28.

            Desire him to go in; trouble him no more. --Shak.

   3. To require; to demand; to claim. [Obs.]

            A doleful case desires a doleful song. --Spenser.

   4. To miss; to regret. [Obs.]

            She shall be pleasant while she lives, and desired
            when she dies.                        --Jer. Taylor.

   Syn: To long for; hanker after; covet; wish; ask; request;
        solicit; entreat; beg.

   Usage: To {Desire}, {Wish}. In desire the feeling is usually
          more eager than in wish. ``I wish you to do this'' is
          a milder form of command than ``I desire you to do
          this,'' though the feeling prompting the injunction
          may be the same. --C. J. Smith.