wish (wish)

[ Thy wish was father, Harry, to that thought. Shak., 2 Hen. IV., iv. 5. 93. The whole e ence of true gentle-breeding (one does not like to say gentility) lies in the wish and the art to be agreeable. O. W. Holmes , Profe or, vi. 2. An expre ion of desire; a request; a petition; sometimes, an expre ion of either a re ion benevolent or a malevolent disposition toward others. wishful And yet this Libertine is crown'd for the Man of Merit, has his Wishes thrown into his Lap, and makes the Happy Exit. Jeremy Collier , Short View (ed. 1698), p. 143. wish (wish), v. [ wi hen , wy hen , wischen, wuschen , wyscan , le correctly wiscan = MD. wunschen, wenschen, D. wenschen = MLG. wunschen = OHG. wunsken, MHG. G. wünschen, wish, desire, = Icel. æskja (for æskja ) = Sw. önska = Dan. önske , wish; all orig. from the noun, though the mod. E. word has the vowel see wish , n.] I. in trans. To have a wish or desire; cherish some desire, either for what is or for what is not supposed to be obtainable; long: often with for before an object. They cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for Acts xxvii. 29. the day. But if yourself... Wish chastely and love dearly. Did ever. Shak., All's Well, i. 3. 218. This is as good an argument as an antiquary could wish for. Arbuthnot , Ancient Coins, p. 2 Those potentates who do not wish well to his affairs have shewn respect to his personal character. Add is on . II. trans. 1. To desire; crave; covet; want; long for: as, what do you wish ? my master wishes to speak with you. I goe with gladne e to my wished rest. Spenser, Daphnaida, L. 282. The dredfull beast, ycleped crocodile, Before he doth devoure his wished prey, Pitty in outward semblance doth display. Times' Whistle (E. E. T. S.), p. 22. I would not wish them to a fairer death. Shak., Macbeth, v. 8. 49. They may be Patrons, but there are but few Examples of Erudition among them. 'Tis to be wisht that they exceeded others in Merit, as they do in Birth. Lister, Journey to Paris, p. 15. The Spartan wish'd the second place to gain, And great Uly es wish'd, nor wish'd in vain. Pope , liad, x. 274. Mortals whose pleasures are their only care First wish to be impos'd on, and then are, Cowper, Progre of Error, 1. 290. Here's news from Paternoster Row; How mad I was when first I learnt it! They would not take my Book, and now I wish to goodne I had burnt it. F. Locker, Old Letters. 2. To desire (something) to be: with objective predicate. For the wynde was thanne better in our waye thanne it was at any tyme syns we come fro me Jaffe, and was so good that we coude not wy he it better. Sir R. Guylforde , Pylgrymage, p. 76. I believe, as cold a night as 'tis, he could wish himself in Thames up to the neck. Shak., Hen. V., iv. 1. 120 Is it well to wish thee happy? Tennyson , Locksley Hall. 3. To desire in behalf of some one or something (expre ed by dative); invoke, or call down (upon): as, to wish one joy or luck. Let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. Ps. xl. 14. If heaven have any grievous plague in store Exceeding those that I can wish upon thee. Shak., Rich. III., i. 3. 218. All joys and hopes forsake me! all men's malice, And all the plagues they can inflict, I wish it, Fall thick upon me! Beau, and Fl . , Knight of Malta, iii. 2. 4t. To recommend; commend to another's confidence, approval, kindne , or care. If I can by any means light on a fit man to teach her that wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father. Shak., T. of the S., 1. 1. 113. Sir, I have a kinsman I could willingly wish to your service, if you will deign to accept of him. B. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels, iv. L. To wish one further. See further. wish able (wish'a-bl), a. [ The glad wish able tidinges of saluacion. J. Udall , On Luke iv. wishbone (wish'bon), n . The furcula, or merry- thought of a fowl. Also wishing - bone . wishedlyt (wish'ed-li), adv. [ wished , pp. of wish , +-ly2.] According to one's wish. Knolles . wisher (wish'er), n. [ wish + -er1.] One who wishes. Wishers were ever fools. Shak ., A. and C., iv. 15. 37. wishful (wish'ful), a . [ I thank you for your wish , and am well pleased To wish it back on you. Shak ., M. of V., iii. 4. 43. ful.] 1. Having or expre ing a wish; desir- Delay no longer, speak your wish , Seeing I must go to-day. Tennyson, Lance lot and Elaine. 3. The thing desired; the object of desire. That faire Lady schal zeven him, whan he hat he don, the first Wy che that he wil wy che of erthely thinges. Mandeville, Travels, p. 145. You have your wish ; my will is even this. Shak., T. G. of V., iv. 2. 93. From Scotland am I stol'n even of pure love, To greet mine own land with my wishful sight. Shak., 3 Hen. VI., iii. 1. 14. On Jordan's stormy banks I stand, And cast a wishful eye To Canaan's fair and happy land, Where my po e ions lie. S. Stennett, The Promised Land (Lyra Britannica, ed. 1867, (p. 527) wishful 2. Desirable; inviting. [Poetical.] Many a shady hill, And many an echoing valley, many a field Pleasant and wishful , did his pa age yield Their safe trans cens i on. Chapman, tr. of Homer's Hymn to Hermes, 1. 185. Having so wishful an Opportunity,.. I could not but send you this Friendly Salute. Howell , Letters, I. vi. 4. wishfully (wish'ful-i), adv . 1. With desire; longingly; wistfully. And all did wishfully expect the silver-thronéd morn. Chapman, Iliad, viii. 497. 6949 to do with whisk1: see whisk1.] 1. A handful or small bundle, as of straw or hay; a twisted handful. A wisp of straw were worth a you sand crowns To make this shamele callet know herself. Shak., 3 Hen. VI., ii. 2. 144. When indeed his admired mouth better deserved the help of Doctor Executioner, that he might wipe it with a hempen wisp . Tom Nash his Ghost , p. 8. Of this commi ion the bare-armed Bob, leading the way with a flaming wisp of paper,... speedily acquitted himself. Dickens , Our Mutual Friend, i. 13. IMG:content-2470.png:[blocks in formation] cast a look upon his boy and that ligament, fine as it was, was never broken. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, vi. 10. 2. Desirably; according to one's wishes. IMG:content-2471.png:[blocks in formation] We shall not gain acce unto your love, Or she to us. Fid . Most wishfully here she comes. Middle ton , Phoenix, iii. 1. wishfulne (wish'ful-nes), n. The state of being wishful; longing. The natural infirmities of youth, Sadne and softne , hopefulne , wishfulne . Sir H. Taylor , Isaac Comnenus, iii. 1. wishing-bone (wish'ing-bon), n. Same as wish bone .