WISHING • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Wishing

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/wˈɪʃɪŋ/ Listen

verb

Wish v. t.

To desire; to long for; to hanker after; to have a mind or disposition toward. "I would not wish Any companion in the world but you." "I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper."

To frame or express desires concerning; to invoke in favor of, or against, any one; to attribute, or cal down, in desire; to invoke; to imprecate. "I would not wish them to a fairer death." "I wish it may not prove some ominous foretoken of misfortune to have met with such a miser as I am." "Let them be driven backward, and put to shame, that wish me evil."

To recommend; to seek confidence or favor in behalf of. (Obs.) "I would be glad to thrive, sir, And I was wished to your worship by a gentleman."

Synonyms: See Desire.

Wish v. i. (past & past part. wished; pres. part. wishing)

To have a desire or yearning; to long; to hanker. "They cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day." "This is as good an argument as an antiquary could wish for."

noun

Wishing n. A. & n. from Wish, v. t.

Wishing bone. See Wishbone.

Wishing cap, a cap fabled to give one whatever he wishes for when wearing it.

See images of 'Wishing'

Etymology of 'Wishing'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Wishing" Quotes from Famous Books

... "Hengist, wishing to become paramount in Southern Britain, thought that the easiest way to accomplish his wish would be by destroying the South British chieftains. Not believing that he should be able to make away with them by open force, he determined to see what he could do by treachery. Accordingly ...

— George Borrow - The Man and His Books • Edward Thomas

... Not wishing to be out-done in the attempt at display, the natives gave a concert, and then a dance, executed by twenty women crowned with China roses. This magnificent ballet was followed by another performance by fifteen men. But we shall ...

— Celebrated Travels and Travellers - Part 2. The Great Navigators of the Eighteenth Century • Jules Verne

... long—the hours that intervened between him and happiness! He was wishing for some interruption that would break this monotonous waiting, when the door opened, and Conrad ...

— Prince Eugene and His Times • L. Muhlbach

... of June, 1712 (well may I remember the day), I was sitting locked in my secret chamber, in a state of the utmost despondency, revolving in my mind what I ought to do to be free of my persecutors, and wishing myself a worm, or a moth, that I might be crushed and at rest, when behold Samuel entered, with eyes like to start out of his head, exclaiming: "For God's sake, master, fly and hide yourself, for your mother's ...

— The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner • James Hogg

... performed the character recommended by him most admirably. The old man was almost choked with rage; but perceiving he had spread a snare for himself, was compelled to hear and forbear, while the lover bolted, wishing him a good night, and singing, "Locks, bolts, and bars, I defy you," as an admirable lesson in return for the blustering manner in which he had received information of the success of ...

— Real Life In London, Volumes I. and II. • Pierce Egan

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