Wish

Pronunciation

• enPR: wÄ­sh, IPA: /wɪʃ/

• Homophones: whish (in accents with the wine-whine merger)

Origin

From Old English wȳscan, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *wunskijaną

Full definition of wish

Noun

1. a desire, hope, or longing for something or for something to happen
2. an expression of such a desire etc.
3. the process of expressing or thinking about such a desire etc. (often connected with ideas of magic and supernatural power(s)
4. the thing desired or longed forYour dearest wish will come true.
• 1901, W. W. Jacobs, The Monkey's Paw"I suppose all old soldiers are the same," said Mrs White. "The idea of our listening to such nonsense! How could wishes be granted in these days? And if they could, how could two hundred pounds hurt you, father?"
  "Might drop on his head from the sky," said the frivolous Herbert.
5. (Sussex) a water meadow.

Usage notes

Collocates with make for the common expression make a wish. See

Derived terms

Verb

1. (transitive) To desire; to want.
   I'll come tomorrow, if you wish it.
• William ShakespeareI would not wish
  Any companion in the world but you.
• 1899, Hughes Mearns, Antigonish, Yesterday, upon the stair / I met a man who wasn’t there / He wasn’t there again today / I wish, I wish he’d go away …
2. (intransitive, followed by for) To hope (for a particular outcome).
• John Arbuthnot (1667-1735)This is as good an argument as an antiquary could wish for.
• 1901, W. W. Jacobs, The Monkey's PawMr. White took the paw from his pocket and eyed it dubiously. "I don't know what to wish for, and that's a fact," he said slowly. "It seems to me I've got all I want."
3. (transitive, with two objects) To bestow (a thought or gesture) towards (someone or something).
   We wish you a Merry Christmas.
• William ShakespeareI would not wish them to a fairer death.
• Bible, Psalms xl. 14Let them be driven backward, and put to shame, that wish me evil.
4. (followed by to and an infinitive) To request or desire to do an activity.
• 2013, Henry Petroski, Geothermal Energy, Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.
5. (transitive) To recommend; to seek confidence or favour on behalf of.
• Ben JonsonI was wished to your worship by a gentleman.

Usage notes

In sense 3, this is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See

Derived terms