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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Desire

De-sīre', v. t.

verbtransitive

[imp. & p. p. DESIRED; p. pr. & vb. n. DESIRING.] [Fr. désirer, Pr. desirar, desiderar, It. desirare, desiderare, desiare, Lat. desiderare. See DESIDERATE.]

Sense 1. To long for the enjoyment or possession of; to feel the want of; to wish; to mourn the loss of.

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

He reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. 2 Chron. xxi. 20.

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts. 1 Cor. xiv. 1.

Sense 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.

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

A doleful case desires a doleful song. Spenser.

Synonyms—To long for; hanker after; covet; wish; beg; ask; request; solicit; entreat.—To DESIRE, REQUEST. To desire is to feel a wish or want. To request is to ask for its gratification. A man desires food, and requests to have it prepared. Desire may be used for request when the relations of the parties are such that the expression of a wish is all that is felt to be necessary to secure compliance. A man desires his friend to write often; a merchant desires his clerk to be more careful in future. In this latter case, from the relations of the parties, desire is stronger than request; it implies a command or injunction.

De-sīre', n.

noun

n. [Fr. désir, Pr. désir, (desire, deseig, de-sieg), It. desire, desiderio, desio, disio, Sp. deseo, Pg. desejo, Lat. desiderium. See supra.]

  1. The natural longing that is excited by the enjoyment or the thought of any good, and impels to action or effort for its continuance or possession; the controlling or indulged inclination, whether good or evil, which indicates the character. “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. Any good which is desired, coveted, or wished for; object of longing. The Desire of all nations shall come. Hag. ii. 7. 4. Excessive, ill-regulated, or morbid longing; lust. Syn.—Wish; appetency; craving; inclination; eagerness; aspiration; longing.