I. ˈwänt noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English wont, wonte, from Old English wand, wond; probably akin to Old English windan to turn, wind — more at wind
dialect Britain : a European mole ( Talpa europaeus )
II. ˈwȯnt, ˈwänt; want to is often ˈwȯn(t)ə or ˈwän(t)ə verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English wanten, from Old Norse vanta; akin to Old Norse vanr wanting, deficient — more at wane
transitive verb
1. : to fail to possess the required or usual amount of : lack
want strength to walk
: be deficient in
want courtesy
2.
a.
(1) : to desire without reservation : wish earnestly — used with the infinitive
wanting to rise in the world
wants to be home
(2) : to feel a profound yearning for : crave
want relaxation
b. : to be inclined to : like
call it what you want , the judge said it was murder
3. dialect : to dispense with : do without
4. : to have need of : require
this motor wants the attention of a good mechanic
5. : to suffer from the lack of
thousands wanting food and shelter
6. : to be under obligation : ought , should — used with the infinitive
you want to act decently in all situations
7. : to wish or demand the presence of
the boss wants you in the front office
: wish to speak to or see
the teacher wants you
8. : to hunt or seek for apprehension
wanted for war crimes
intransitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to be lacking or nonexistent : fail to be present, available, or forthcoming
b. : to be deficient or short
it wants three minutes to twelve
2. : to be in need (as of food or shelter) : be needy or destitute
the family would never allow their children to want
3. : to have or feel need : long — usually used with for and sometimes of
never wants for friends
4.
a. : to be necessary or needed
it wants no extended examination … to reveal the egregious character of the supposition — C.I.Lewis
b. : to become required : become morally demanded
it wants all our efforts to succeed
5. : to desire earnestly to come or go — used with a directional adverb
the visitor wants in
the dog wants out
Synonyms: see desire , lack
III. ˈwȯnt, ˈwänt noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from wanten to want
1.
a. : the quality or state of lacking
want of common sense
or failing to possess a required or usual amount
a loss incurred by his want of two points
b. : dire need (as of the necessities of life) : destitution
a nation living in want
2.
a. : something needed or desired
sufficient means to satisfy his moderate wants
b. : something wished for or wanted
his wants are rarely satisfied
c. : a feeling of lacking something coupled with the desire or need for it
3. : personal defect : fault
whatever his wants, he has always been honest
Synonyms: see absence