And me, his parent, would full soon devour For want
of other prey. --Milton.
From having wishes in consequence of our wants, we
often feel wants in consequence of our wishes.
--Rambler.
Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and more saucy.
--Franklin.
2. Specifically, absence or lack of necessaries; destitution;
poverty; penury; indigence; need.
Nothing is so hard for those who abound in riches,
as to conceive how others can be in want. --Swift.
3. That which is needed or desired; a thing of which the loss
is felt; what is not possessed, and is necessary for use
or pleasure.
Habitual superfluities become actual wants. --Paley.
4. (Mining) A depression in coal strata, hollowed out before
the subsequent deposition took place. [Eng.]
Syn: Indigence; deficiency; defect; destitution; lack;
failure; dearth; scarceness.
They that want honesty, want anything. --Beau. & Fl.
Nor think, though men were none, That heaven would
want spectators, God want praise. --Milton.
The unhappy never want enemies. --Richardson.
2. To have occasion for, as useful, proper, or requisite; to
require; to need; as, in winter we want a fire; in summer
we want cooling breezes.
3. To feel need of; to wish or long for; to desire; to crave.
`` What wants my son?'' --Addison.
I want to speak to you about something. --A.
Trollope.
The disposition, the manners, and the thoughts are
all before it; where any of those are wanting or
imperfect, so much wants or is imperfect in the
imitation of human life. --Dryden.
2. To be in a state of destitution; to be needy; to lack.
You have a gift, sir (thank your education), Will
never let you want. --B. Jonson.
For as in bodies, thus in souls, we find What wants
in blood and spirits, swelled with wind. --Pope.
Note: Want was formerly used impersonally with an indirect
object. ``Him wanted audience.'' --Chaucer.