— wanter , n. — wantless , adj. — wantlessness , n.
/wont, wawnt/ , v.t.
1. to feel a need or a desire for; wish for: to want one's dinner; always wanting something new.
2. to wish, need, crave, demand, or desire (often fol. by an infinitive): I want to see you. She wants to be notified.
3. to be without or be deficient in: to want judgment; to want knowledge.
4. to fall short by (a specified amount): The sum collected wants but a few dollars of the desired amount.
5. to require or need: The house wants painting.
v.i.
6. to feel inclined; wish; like (often fol. by to ): We can stay home if you want.
7. to be deficient by the absence of some part or thing, or to feel or have a need (sometimes fol. by for ): He did not want for abilities.
8. to have need (usually fol. by for ): If you want for anything, let him know.
9. to be in a state of destitution, need, or poverty: She would never allow her parents to want.
10. to be lacking or absent, as a part or thing necessary to completeness: All that wants is his signature.
11. want in or out , Chiefly Midland.
a. to desire to enter or leave: The cat wants in.
b. Informal. to desire acceptance in or release from something specified: I talked with Louie about our plan, and he wants in.
n.
12. something wanted or needed; necessity: My wants are few.
13. something desired, demanded, or required: a person of childish, capricious wants.
14. absence or deficiency of something desirable or requisite; lack: plants dying for want of rain.
15. the state of being without something desired or needed; need: to be in want of an assistant.
16. the state of being without the necessaries of life; destitution; poverty: a country where want is virtually unknown.
17. a sense of lack or need of something: to feel a vague want.
[ 1150-1200; ME wante vanta to lack ]
Syn. 1. require, crave. See wish. 3. need. See lack. 12. desideratum. 14. dearth, scarcity, scarceness, inadequacy, insufficiency, paucity, meagerness. 16. privation, penury, indigence. See poverty .