Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Wish \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.
--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}.
Wish \Wish\, v. i. [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}, v. t., 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.
Wish \Wish\, n.
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.
Source : WordNet®
wish
n 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"
v 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}]