From Middle English wisshen, wischen, wüschen, from Old English wȳsċan (“to wish”), from Proto-West Germanic *wunskijan, from Proto-Germanic *wunskijaną (“to wish”), from Proto-Indo-European *wenh₁- (“to wish, love”).
Cognate with Scots wis (“to wish”), Saterland Frisian wonskje (“to wish”), West Frisian winskje (“to wish”), Dutch wensen (“to wish”), German wünschen (“to wish”), Luxembourgish wënschen (“to wish”), Yiddish ווינטשן (vintshn, “to wish”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål ønske (“to wish”), Faroese ynskja (“to wish, to desire”), Icelandic æskja, óska (“to wish”), Norwegian Nynorsk ønskja, ønskje, ønska, ønske, ynskja, ynskje (“to wish, to desire”), Swedish önska (“to wish”). Via PIE cognate with Latin Venus, veneror (“venerate, honour, love”), English wonder.
Meanings
A desire, hope, or longing for something or for something to happen.
make someone's wish come true
Send this message to six beings of your acquaintance, and your greatest wish shall come true! 2010, BioWare, Mass Effect 2 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU!:
It is my wish that the bequest (should) be given to an almshouse.
An expression of such a desire, often connected with ideas of magic and supernatural power.
LESTER: You believe in wishes? I mean, you believe they come true?
CHESTER: Nah. I believe in wishes, but I don't believe they come true. Not unless it's a real easy wish, like "I wish I was at a birthday party." But you gotta blow out all the candles, or else the wish don't come true. If one candle stays lit, you don't get your wish. 2004, George Carlin, When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?, New York: Hyperion Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, →OL, page 237:
make a wish
The thing desired or longed for.
My dearest wish is to see them happily married.
"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. 1901, W. W. Jacobs, The Monkey's Paw:
You have my best wishes.
(qualifier:Sussex) A water meadow.
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wishes
Number=Plur
lexicographic
Deriveds
wishbone (Terms derived from the noun "wish") · wish away (Terms derived from the noun "wish") · wishful (Terms derived from the noun "wish") · best wishes (Terms derived from the noun "wish") · wish-list (Terms derived from the noun "wish") · wishlist (Terms derived from the noun "wish") · death wish (Terms derived from the noun "wish") · wish sandwich (Terms derived from the noun "wish") · make a wish (Terms derived from the noun "wish") · wish-cycling (Terms derived from the noun "wish") · wish list (Terms derived from the noun "wish") · good wishes (Terms derived from the noun "wish") · fish one's wish (Terms derived from the noun "wish") · if wishes were horses, beggars would ride (Terms derived from the noun "wish") · your wish is my command (Terms derived from the noun "wish")
From Middle English wisshen, wischen, wüschen, from Old English wȳsċan (“to wish”), from Proto-West Germanic *wunskijan, from Proto-Germanic *wunskijaną (“to wish”), from Proto-Indo-European *wenh₁- (“to wish, love”).
Cognate with Scots wis (“to wish”), Saterland Frisian wonskje (“to wish”), West Frisian winskje (“to wish”), Dutch wensen (“to wish”), German wünschen (“to wish”), Luxembourgish wënschen (“to wish”), Yiddish ווינטשן (vintshn, “to wish”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål ønske (“to wish”), Faroese ynskja (“to wish, to desire”), Icelandic æskja, óska (“to wish”), Norwegian Nynorsk ønskja, ønskje, ønska, ønske, ynskja, ynskje (“to wish, to desire”), Swedish önska (“to wish”). Via PIE cognate with Latin Venus, veneror (“venerate, honour, love”), English wonder.
Meanings
(transitive) To desire; to want.
Now John the butler must be sent
To learn the road that Phyllis went:
The groom was wished to saddle Crop;
For John must neither light nor stop,
But find her, wheresoe'er she fled,
And bring her back alive or dead. 1716, Jonathan Swift, Phyllis, or the Progress of Love:
Anyone who wishes an aisle seat should see an attendant.
I'll come tomorrow, if you wish (it).
Showing the population what we wish them to be is the best way for them to change. 2018 May 13, Justin King, “How to Fix the Storylines of Film and Television”, in Return of Kings:
I wish it to be known that I wish them all to leave the company.
Oh, (I wish) that I'd never been born.
I would not wish / Any companion in the world but you. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
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 … 1899, Hughes Mearns, Antigonish:
(archaic, transitive) To hope (+ object clause with may or in present subjunctive).
I wish he mean me well, that he takes so much pains! 1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter LXXXIV”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC:
She hears that Miss Bigg is to be married in a fortnight. I wish it may be so. 1808, Jane Austen, letter, 1 October
(followed by for, intransitive) To hope (for a particular outcome), even if that outcome is unlikely to occur or cannot occur.
I wished (that) it would rain.
This is as good an argument as an antiquary could wish for. 1727, John Arbuthnot, Tables of Ancient Coins, Weights and Measures:
Mr. 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." 1901, W. W. Jacobs, The Monkey's Paw:
I wish I could go back in time and teach myself what I know now.
(ditransitive) To bestow (a thought or gesture) towards (someone or something).
I would not wish them to a fairer death. c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene viii]:
We wish you a merry Christmas.
Let them be driven backward, and put to shame, that wish me evil. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 40:14:
I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.
(intransitive, qualifier:followed by to and an infinitive) To request or desire to do an activity.
Anyone who wishes to may leave now.
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. 2013 July-August, Henry Petroski, “Geothermal Energy”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4:
(transitive) To recommend; to seek confidence or favour on behalf of.
Farewell: yet for the loue I beare my sweet Bianca, if I can by any meanes light on a fit man to teach her that wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father. c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
I was wished to your worship by a gentleman. 1610 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Alchemist, London: […] Thomas Snodham, for Walter Burre, and are to be sold by Iohn Stepneth, […], published 1612, →OCLC, (please specify the Internet Archive page), (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
Forms
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wished
Number=Plur, Tense=Past
lexicographic
wished
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Past
lexicographic
wished
Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Past
lexicographic
wished
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
wished
Mood=Sub, Tense=Past
lexicographic
wished
Number=Sing, Person=1, Tense=Past
lexicographic
wished
Tense=Past
lexicographic
wish
Number=Plur, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
wish
VerbForm=Inf
lexicographic
wish
Mood=Sub, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
wish
Number=Sing, Person=1, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
wish
Mood=Imp, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
wish
Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
wishing
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
wishedst
Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Past
archaic
lexicographic
wisheth
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
archaic
lexicographic
wishest
Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Pres
archaic
lexicographic
wishes
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
Deriveds
as you wish (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · half wish (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · well-wish (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · wish you well (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · wish-fulfilling (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · you wish (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · well-wisher (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · be careful what you wish for (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · unwish (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · wish well (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · wish someone well (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · wish on a star (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · ill-wish (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · wisher (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · wish upon a star (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · I wish I may be shot (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · wish fulfilment (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · wish-wash (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · I wish (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · wish one joy of it (Terms derived from the verb "wish") · wish someone ill (Terms derived from the verb "wish")
Translations (170)
et soovima (to hope for an outcome) · mn хүсэх (to hope for an outcome) · fa آرزو داشتن (to bestow a thought) · fr souhaiter (to hope for an outcome) · fa آرزو کردن (to hope for an outcome) · gl desexar (to hope for an outcome) · hu kíván (to hope for an outcome) · sl želeti (to hope for an outcome) · eo deziri (to bestow a thought) · grc ἐθέλω (to hope for an outcome) · sv önska (to hope for an outcome) · ko 빌다 (to hope for an outcome) · eo deziri (to hope for an outcome) · sa प्रकाङ्क्षति (to hope for an outcome) · lb wënschen (to hope for an outcome) · ko 원하다 (to hope for an outcome) · la desidero (to hope for an outcome) · kk қалау (to hope for an outcome) · la cupio (to hope for an outcome) · cs přát (to hope for an outcome) · nb ønske (to hope for an outcome) · es desear (to hope for an outcome) · ko 희망하다 (to hope for an outcome) · gmw-ecg wünschen (to hope for an outcome) · vi chúc (to bestow a thought) · uk бажа́ти (to hope for an outcome) · cic imhani (to hope for an outcome) · pl życzyć (to bestow a thought) · ka წადილი (to hope for an outcome) · gl desexar a (to bestow a thought) · mk пожели (to hope for an outcome) · sh žèleti (to hope for an outcome) · tr istemek (to hope for an outcome) · uz istamoq (to hope for an outcome) · ka ნდომა (to hope for an outcome) · vi muốn (to hope for an outcome) · grc βούλομαι (to hope for an outcome) · uk бажа́ти (to bestow a thought) · se sávvat (to hope for an outcome) · wyi intak-kongi (to hope for an outcome) · hy ցանկանալ (to hope for an outcome) · ar تَمَنَّى (to hope for an outcome) · de wünschen (to bestow a thought) · sa विकाङ्क्षति (to hope for an outcome) · vi mong (to hope for an outcome) · sk priať si (to hope for an outcome) · cmn 願望 /愿望 (to hope for an outcome) · ca desitjar (to hope for an outcome) · mt tixtieq (to hope for an outcome) · sga do·futhracair (to hope for an outcome) · es desear (to bestow a thought) · sk priať (to hope for an outcome) · ko 소원하다 (to hope for an outcome) · sh жѐлети (to hope for an outcome) · ky тилөө (to hope for an outcome) · bg жела́я (to bestow a thought) · ru жела́ть (to hope for an outcome) · ko 바라다 (to hope for an outcome) · mk посака (to bestow a thought) · pt desejar (to hope for an outcome) · ru пожела́ть (to hope for an outcome) · mk посакува (to hope for an outcome) · km បួង (to hope for an outcome) · tr dilemek (to hope for an outcome) · ja 望む (to hope for an outcome) · pl pożyczyć (to hope for an outcome) · it volere (to hope for an outcome) · mi hiahia-tia (to hope for an outcome) · cic anhi (to bestow a thought) · km សូមជូនពរ (to bestow a thought) · fa خواستن (to hope for an outcome) · ja 祈る (to hope for an outcome) · fo ynskja (to hope for an outcome) · ja 希望する (to hope for an outcome) · uz tilamoq (to hope for an outcome) · fa آرزو داشتن (to hope for an outcome) · de wünschen (to hope for an outcome) · ja 欲する (to hope for an outcome) · lt norėti (to hope for an outcome) · ky каалоо (to hope for an outcome) · pl życzyć (to hope for an outcome) · cs přát si (to hope for an outcome) · gd guidh (to bestow a thought) · mk пожелува (to hope for an outcome) · ka ნატვრა (to hope for an outcome) · be пажада́ць (to hope for an outcome) · nl willen (to hope for an outcome) · ckb خواز (to hope for an outcome) · ga santaigh (to hope for an outcome) · da ønske (to hope for an outcome) · sa लषति (to hope for an outcome) · ca desitjar (to bestow a thought) · cy dymuno (to hope for an outcome) · mk посакува (to bestow a thought) · he בִּקֵּשׁ (to hope for an outcome) · sq uroj (to hope for an outcome) · be жада́ць (to hope for an outcome) · fr souhaiter (to bestow a thought) · uk побажа́ти (to bestow a thought) · hi तमन्ना (to hope for an outcome) · it augurare (to bestow a thought) · el εύχομαι (to hope for an outcome) · fa آرزو کردن (to bestow a thought) · grc θέλω (to hope for an outcome) · tyz ái (to hope for an outcome) · fy winskje (to hope for an outcome) · bg жела́я (to hope for an outcome) · vi cầu mong (to hope for an outcome) · km ផ្សង (to hope for an outcome) · tg орзу доштан (to hope for an outcome) · th ประสงค์ (to hope for an outcome) · tyz ái (to bestow a thought) · la volō (to hope for an outcome) · fi toivottaa (to bestow a thought) · oc desirar (to hope for an outcome) · eu nahi izan (to hope for an outcome) · hu kíván (to bestow a thought) · fr espérer (to hope for an outcome) · wal amuwa (to hope for an outcome) · kk тілеу (to hope for an outcome) · ro ura (to bestow a thought) · id harapan (to hope for an outcome) · tg орзу кардан (to hope for an outcome) · zza arzu kerden (to hope for an outcome) · pl zażyczyć (to bestow a thought) · ta வாழ்த்து (to bestow a thought) · la desiderio (to hope for an outcome) · vi chúc (to hope for an outcome) · ojp 願ふ (to hope for an outcome) · ojp 望む (to hope for an outcome) · sh жѐљети (to hope for an outcome) · fur volê (to hope for an outcome) · ja 願う (to hope for an outcome) · zza wasten (to hope for an outcome) · fo ynskja (to bestow a thought) · cic anhi (to hope for an outcome) · hi चाहना (to hope for an outcome) · id keinginan (to hope for an outcome) · nl wensen (to bestow a thought) · te కోరు (to hope for an outcome) · az diləmək (to bestow a thought) · tg хостан (to hope for an outcome) · vi hy vọng (to hope for an outcome) · cmn 但願 /但愿 (to hope for an outcome) · uk зи́чити (to bestow a thought) · gd iarr (to hope for an outcome) · ur چاہنا (to hope for an outcome) · cmn 希望 (to hope for an outcome) · ang willan (to hope for an outcome) · az arzu etmək (to hope for an outcome) · fi toivoa (to hope for an outcome) · sh žèljeti (to hope for an outcome) · nl wensen (to hope for an outcome) · cmn 祝 (to bestow a thought) · lv vēlēties (to hope for an outcome) · mk посака (to hope for an outcome) · yi ווינטשן (to hope for an outcome) · haw makemake (to hope for an outcome) · uz orzu qilmoq (to hope for an outcome) · ta விரும்பு (to hope for an outcome) · gl agardar (to hope for an outcome) · te అభిలషించు (to hope for an outcome) · cic imanhi (to bestow a thought) · izh sallia (to hope for an outcome) · sv tillönska (to bestow a thought) · pt desejar a (to bestow a thought) · is óska (to hope for an outcome) · ro dori (to hope for an outcome) · izh toivoa (to hope for an outcome) · it desiderare (to hope for an outcome)