Desiring

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. [1913 Webster]

Neither shall any man desire thy land. --Ex. xxxiv. 24. [1913 Webster]

Ye desire your child to live. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

2. To express a wish for; to entreat; to request. [1913 Webster]

Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? --2 Kings iv. 28. [1913 Webster]

Desire him to go in; trouble him no more. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. To require; to demand; to claim. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

A doleful case desires a doleful song. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

4. To miss; to regret. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]