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Search results for 'wish':

wish verb (wishes, wished, wishing) 1 to want; to have a desire. 2 to desire, especially vainly or helplessly (that something were the case). 3 to express a desire for (luck, success, happiness, etc) to come to someone. 4 to demand or want something, or to do something. 5 to say (good afternoon, etc) to someone. noun (wishes) 1 a desire. 2 (usually wishes) what one wants to be done, etc. 3 (wishes) a hope expressed for someone's welfare • best wishes. 4 in fairy tales and traditional ritual, etc: the stating of a desire in expectation or hope of its being magically fulfilled. wisher noun. wish someone joy of something usually ironic to wish them well of (some liability or commitment, etc that the speaker is glad to be rid of).
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon wyscan.

wish for something 1 to long for it, especially in vain. 2 to make a wish for it.

wish someone well 1 to wish them success or good fortune. 2 to bear them no ill-will.

wish something on someone 1 with negatives to desire it to be inflicted on them • I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. 2 colloq to impose or inflict it on them • I expect she'll wish herself on us for Christmas.