I. də̇ˈzī(ə)r, dēˈ- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English desiren, from Old French desirer, from Latin desiderare to long for, miss, desire, from de- + -siderare (from sider-, sidus star, constellation) — more at sidereal
transitive verb
1. : to long or hope for : wish for earnestly : exhibit or feel desire for : covet
men who desire success must be prepared to work
he desired her approval above all things
desiring only a peaceful haven
2.
a. : to ask or call for (something) : express a wish for : request
maid services available if desired
they desire an immediate answer
b. : to express a wish to (someone) : ask , request , entreat
desire him to come in
they desired the conference to reconsider its decision
3. obsolete : invite
4. archaic : to feel the loss of
intransitive verb
: to desire something or the fulfillment of some aim
he can be, if he so desires, the complete master of his own cabinet — H.J.Laski
Synonyms:
wish , want , crave , covet : desire , wish , and want are often used with identical intent though in such situations, usually everyday ones where the degree of intensity of longing or need is not at issue, desire and wish occur more frequently than want as seeming to confer more dignity on the subject or implying more respectfulness
we can definitely order anything you wish
a position desired by young lady — advt
desire in more general use, however, emphasizes the strength or ardor of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim
more than any other thing on earth he desired to fight for his country — W.A.White
unions which desired to avail themselves of the benefits of the law — Collier's Year Book
the waitress should not ask if wine is desired
wish is less strong, often suggesting a not usually intense longing for an object unattained, unattainable, or questionably attainable
Newton's law of gravitation could not be wished into existence — H.A.Overstreet
not to have property, if one wished it, was almost a certain sign of shiftlessness — Van Wyck Brooks
want is a less formal term than wish and so is often interchangeable with it in situations where dignity of the subject or respectfulness is not at issue, though generally want implies a need or lack
those who wanted to live long — Morris Fishbein
the French wanted European unity — New York Times
crave implies strongly the force of physical or mental appetite or need (as of hunger, thirst, love, or ambition)
to crave peace and security after war
that eternal craving for amusement — Donn Byrne
what he craved was books of poetry and chivalry — E.A.Weeks
covet implies a strong, eager desire, often inordinate and envious and often for what belongs to another
where water is the most coveted and essential resource because its supply is limited — American Guide Series: Texas
we hate no people, and covet no people's land — Wendell Willkie
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French desir, from desirer
1. : conscious impulse toward an object or experience that promises enjoyment or satisfaction in its attainment
with Freud all human behavior seems to be the outcome of desire — that is, of the search for pleasure — H.M.Parshley
in all Indian thought since Buddhism, the original sin has been desire , which ensnares the spirit in material incarnation — Weston La Barre
2.
a. : an enduring and passionate longing or intense yearning : an urgently impelling motive toward attainment : craving , appetency
a desire of serfs to get rid of the feudalism that has held them in a vise from time out of mind — W.O.Douglas
the desire for adventure
if a plebiscite confirms the people's desire for independence — Vera M. Dean
humility is the most difficult of all virtues to achieve; nothing dies harder than the desire to think well of oneself — T.S.Eliot
b.
(1) : a strong physical inclination
(2) : erotic urge : sexual attraction or appetite
the full lips thrust out and taut like the flesh of animals distended by fear or desire — Willa Cather
desire is the natural consequence of the sexual instinct — W.S.Maugham
c. : a striving after in intent : a deliberate choice or preference
the conductor's desire to follow the composer's instructions to the letter
he expressed a desire to avoid compulsory measures
3. : an asking or formal request for some action : petition
the yeas and nays of the members of either house on any question shall, at the desire of one fifth of those present, be entered on the journal — U.S. Constitution
4. : something that is desired : an object of longing
then the leaders got hold of it, took it to pieces and remolded it closer to the heart's desire — S.H.Adams
Synonyms:
appetite , appetency or appetence , concupiscence , lust , passion , urge : desire is a general term applicable to any wish or longing of any sort
the desire for change, for novelty, for a relief from the monotony of every day — Aldous Huxley
a desire for admiration in general — Herbert Spencer
the geisha is only what she has been made in answer to foolish human desire for the illusion of love mixed with youth and grace, but without regrets or responsibilities — Lafcadio Hearn
appetite applies to a desire strongly calling for satisfaction; it may be wide in its application
it gave men a familiarity with the method and outline of Aristotle's logic, and whetted their appetite for more — R.W.Southern
young Nathaniel Bowditch, the future navigator, first fed his appetite for mathematical science — S.E.Morison & H.S.Commager
It is likely to be used in reference to sensual desires and needs
he collected guns and women, and his sexual appetite was awesome — E.D.Radin
appetites for expensive clothes and jewelry, good food, strong liquor and weak women — Alan Hynd
appetency and appetence may suggest appetite marked by strong craving
the liquid shine of the workmen's eyes, like the eyes of drinking men when they smell liquor, bright with appetence — Mary Austin
that gnawing dissatisfaction which his purely physical appetencies create in him again and again — R.W.Stallman
concupiscence may apply to any strong craving but commonly applies to strong or inordinate sexual desire
the principle of sin was designated by the Schoolmen as “ concupiscence ”, which included inordinate desires in general, the sexual passion being the prominent element — G.P.Fisher
lust may apply to any exigent desire but commonly is used in reference to crass craving for something unsanctioned, especially illicit or inordinate sex
no greed for the land or wealth of any other people, no vulgar ambition, no morbid lust for material gain at the expense of others — Sir Winston Churchill
he had the lust for money as Martinez had for women — Willa Cather
in his morning litany he could pray to be kept from lasciviousness, but when night came lust might come with it — Carl Van Doren
passion indicates compelling, intense emotion or desire or its ardent fulfillment, often in matters sexual
this consuming passion for law made him govern himself, keep in restraint the fierce wrath which leaped up within him — H.E.Scudder
the passion of Giovanni and Annabella is not shown as an affinity of temperament due to identity of blood; it hardly rises above the purely carnal infatuation — T.S.Eliot
and she loved him with a full, happy passion that responded frankly and generously to his — Rose Macaulay
urge is used of a persistent desire or inclination seeking satisfaction
the urge of “backward” peoples to move rapidly from feudalism to industrialism, to acquire modern and expensive technology in a hurry and thus drastically raise their living standards — W.G.Carleton
the urges of dishonest hired girls, prostitutes who didn't want to be reformed, or shiftless husbands — Barbara Klaw