De*sire" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desired (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Desiring.] [F. d'esirer, 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.
Syn. -- 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.
© Webster 1913.
De*sire", n. [F. d'esir, fr. d'esirer. 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.
Syn. -- Wish; appetency; craving; inclination; eagerness; aspiration; longing.
© Webster 1913.