Dictionary Information: Definition Desire - Description Meaning Thesaurus

Desire (De*sire") (?), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Desired (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Desiring.]
[F. désirer, 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.

Synonyms -- To long for; hanker after; covet; wish; ask; request; solicit; entreat; beg. -- 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 susage> C. J. Smith.

Desire (De*sire"), n.
[F. désir, fr. désirer. 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.

Synonyms -- Wish; appetency; craving; inclination; eagerness; aspiration; longing.