Hypertext Webster Gateway: "desire"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Desire \De*sire"\, n. [F. d['e]sir, fr. d['e]sirer. See
{Desire}, v. t.]
1. The natural longing that is excited by the enjoyment or
the thought of any good, and impels to action or effort
its continuance or possession; an eager wish to obtain or
enjoy.

Unspeakable desire to see and know. --Milton.

2. An expressed wish; a request; petition.

And slowly was my mother brought To yield consent to
my desire. --Tennyson.

3. Anything which is desired; an object of longing.

The Desire of all nations shall come. --Hag. ii. 7.

4. Excessive or morbid longing; lust; appetite.

5. Grief; regret. [Obs.] --Chapman.

Syn: Wish; appetency; craving; inclination; eagerness;
aspiration; longing.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

desire
n 1: the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
2: an inclination to want things; "a man of many desires"
3: something that is desired
v 1: feel or have a desire for; want strongly; "I want to go home
now; "I want my own room" [syn: {want}]
2: expect with desire; "I trust you will behave better from now
on"; "I hope she understands that she cannot expect a
raise" [syn: {hope}, {trust}]
3: express a desire for


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