Wish (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Wished (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Wishing.] [OE. wischen, weschen, wuschen, AS. wscan; akin to D. wenschen, G. wunschen, Icel. aeeskja, Dan. onske, Sw. onska; from AS. wsc a wish; akin to OD. & G. wunsch, OHG. wunsc, Icel. sk, Skr. vacha a wish, vach 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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.