Wish sb.¹

[f. WISH v., q.v. for forms.]

  1.  An instance of wishing; a feeling in the mind directed towards something that one believes would give satisfaction if attained, possessed or realized. (With const. as in WISH v. 1 (b), (c), (d).)

  Most commonly denoting a desire for something not attainable by one’s own effort, felt in the mind but not impelling to action; a passive or inactive desire.

  The ordinary word for this affection of the mind; less emphatic than craving, longing, or yearning, but including these as particular cases.

1399.  Gower, Conf., III. 254. Bot if mi wisshes myhte availe, I wolde it were a groundles pet.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 535/1. Wusche, or wuschynge, exoptacio.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Prais of Aige, 6. My wys Of al þis warld to mak me lord & kyng.

1530.  Palsgr., 289/2. Wysshe desyre, souhait.

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., I. iii. 62. As one relying on your Lordships will, And not depending on his friendly wish. Ibid. (1597), 2 Hen. IV., IV. v. 93. Thy wish was Father (Harry) to that thought.

1600.  Dekker, Old Fortunatus, D 2 b. This Hat … clapt vpon my head, I (onely with a wish) am through the ayre, Transported in a moment ouer Seas.

1648.  Fanshawe, Il Pastor Fido, II. iv. 64. Fortune beyond my wish hath favoured me.

1694.  Atterbury, Serm., Prov. xiv. 6 (1726), I. 191. He comes with strong Wishes that he may find it all a Mistake.

1750.  Gray, Elegy, 74. Their sober wishes never learn’d to stray.

1751.  Johnson, Rambler, No. 178, ¶ 12. The whole world is put in motion by the wish for riches, and the dread of poverty.

1825.  Scott, Betrothed, v. Form but a wish for her advantage, and it shall be fulfilled.

1850.  Tennyson, In Mem., LV. 1. The wish, that of the living whole No life may fail beyond the grave. Ibid., XC. 24. I find not yet one lonely thought That cries against my wish for thee.

1850.  G. C. Lewis, Lett. (1870), 223. He … has no wish to be a Church dignitary.

1876.  Mozley, Univ. Serm., xi. 213. The power of prayer … is … the power of strong wishes.

  Proverbs.  1665.  Wither, Lord’s Prayer, 50. If (as the Proverb is) wishes were Thrushes, we might all eat Birds.

1670.  Ray, Prov., 157. If wishes would bide, beggers would ride.

1721.  Kelly, Sc. Prov., 178. If Wishes were Horses, Beggars would ride.

1880.  Meredith, Tragic Com. (1881), 89. He had a saying: Two wishes make a will.

  † b.  in generalized use: Desire. Obs. rare.

c. 1430.  Hymns Virgin (1867), 62. Pride … ȝeueþ but woo & wyssche to wage.

a. 1716.  South, Serm., Matt. xxvi. 41 (1717), VI. 416. Prayer … was never designed to supply the room of Watchfulness, or to make Wish instead of Endeavour.

  c.  In phrases with prepositions. † With or upon one’s wish or wishes, † at wish, according to one’s wish, just as one wishes; in readiness for one as one wishes, at one’s disposal (= at will, WILL sb.¹ 15 b, c). † At high wish, at the height of the fulfilment of one’s wishes. To (one’s) wish (rarely wishes), as one wishes; esp. to the full extent of one’s desire, as much as one wishes. (Now rare or Obs.) To a wish (Sc.), † till a wish, just as one would wish, perfectly, exactly.

13[?].  Cursor M., 23412. All þat wit-standand þe es Thoru sal þou thril it wit þi wiss [Gött. Thoru sal þou thril wid þi suiftnes].

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 330. I have ben ofte moved so, That with my wisshes if I myhte,… I hadde storven in a day. Ibid., II. 39. He ne wol no travail take To ryde for his ladi sake, Bot liveth al upon his wisshes.

c. 1450.  Holland, Howlat, 847. All thus thir hathillis in hall heirly remanit, With all welthis at wiss.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Blanchardyn, ix. 37. Well syttyng on horsbacke, and tyl a wysshe wel shapen or alle membres.

a. 1542.  Wyatt, Poems, ‘Unstable Dream,’ 13. Where it was at wysshe it could not remain.

a. 1568.  Ascham, Scholem. (Arb.), 40. Though a child haue all the giftes of nature at wishe.

1586.  Whitney, Choice Emblems, 144. [He] to his wishe, of pilottes made his choise.

1601.  Shaks., Jul. C., III. ii. 271. He comes vpon a wish. Ibid. (1607), Timon, IV. iii. 245. The one is filling still, neuer compleat; The other, at high wish.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IX. 423. When to his wish, Beyond his hope, Eve separate he spies.

a. 1674.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., vii. § 153. Though the relief of Banbury succeeded to wish, yet the King paid dear for it soon after.

1779.  Forrest, Voy. N. Guinea, 56. The people, who assisted us so opportunely, were rewarded to their wish.

1787.  [J. Beattie], Scoticisms, 106. Every thing succeeds to a wish.

1823.  Byron, Juan, XV. lxviii. A dish Of which perhaps the cookery rather varies, So every one may dress it to his wish.

  2.  A desire expressed in words, or the expression of such; sometimes nearly = ‘request’: = DESIRE sb. 4. (Cf. WISH v. 3–5.)

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, VIII. ix 31. The wyssis and avowis … By women and the matronys doublit were.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxiv. 264. He sayd ‘I wysshe them here on this table.’ He had no sooner made his wysshe but they were set on the table.

1598.  J. Melvill, Autob. & Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 443. My opinioun and wis was, ther sould be na generall meittings.

1714.  Pope, Lett. to Jervas, 27 Aug. I admire your whig principles of resistance exceedingly, in the spirit of the Barcelonians; I join in your wish for them.

1819.  Shelley, Cenci, I. iii. 27. One supplication, one desire, one hope, That he would grant a wish for his two sons.

1908.  R. Bagot, A. Cuthbert, xxvi. 339. At Anthony’s wish she wore the Cuthbert diamonds.

  b.  spec. An expression of desire for another’s welfare: often as a farewell greeting. Usually, now always, in pl.

1593.  Shaks., Rich. II., I. iii. 94. Take from my mouth, the wish of happy yeares. Ibid. (1601), All’s Well, I. i. 68. Maddam I desire your holie wishes.

1627.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Armado, Ep. Ded. With my best wishes for the perpetuity of your … felicity.

1735.  Pope, Lett., Sept., Wks. 1741. II. 148. Pray tell him my best wishes for his health and long life.

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., I. xxv. 177. We quitted Chamouni, bearing with us the good wishes of a portion of its inhabitants.

1883.  D. C. Murray, Hearts, v. I know nothing about it, Tom,… but you have my best wishes.

  c.  An imprecation, a malediction. Obs. or dial.

1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., III. ii. 91. Blister’d be thy tongue For such a wish, he was not borne to shame. Ibid. (1594), Rich. III., IV. i. 72. This was my Wish: Be thou (quoth I) accurst.

1820.  Marmaiden of Clyde, x. in Edin. Mag., VI. 423.

1854.  Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., s.v., ‘He took a many wishes,’ was an expression used by a witness in the Sessions Court at Northampton.

  3.  transf. An object of desire; what one wishes or wishes for: = DESIRE sb. 5.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 10406. Þai þat stad er in þair blis, Witvten want has alle þair wis.

c. 1400.  Maundev., xvii. [xiii.] (1919), 97. Þat faire lady schal ȝeuen him … the first wyssche þat he wil wyssche of erthely thinges.

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., IV. ii. 93. Sil. What’s your will? Pro. That I may compasse yours. Sil. You haue your wish. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., III. v. 20. Your valiant Britaines haue their wishes in it.

1667.  Milton, P. L., VIII. 451. Thy fit help, thy other self, Thy wish, exactly to thy hearts desire.

1713.  Addison, Cato, IV. iii. 80. My joy! my best belov’d! my only wish!

[1761.  Foote, Lyar, I. ii. (1786), 15. Surely, the wish of every decent woman is to be unnotic’d in public.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v. I. 566. The wish of the government was that he should be executed in England.]

  4.  Comb.: wish-bone = MERRYTHOUGHT (q.v. for reason of the name); wish-wife [after ON. óskmær (see WISHMAY)], a light woman.

1860.  Bartlett, Dict. Amer. (ed. 3), *Wish-Bone.

1884.  Roe, Nat. Ser. Story, vi. If I bring you a canvas-back [duck], Amy, will you put the wish-bone over the door?

1886.  Corbett, Fall of Asgard, I. 227. Her wouldst thou profane as though she were some *wish-wife.