To aspire, to aim at.
1688. Each ambitioning to engross as much as they can.—Clayton, Phil. Trans. (N.E.D.)
1818. Who ambitioned to be his correspondent.—Thomas Jefferson, ‘Writings’ (1830), iv. 453. (N.E.D.)
1857. The idea of sparking every pretty girl I met was rather above my bend then, and I did n’t ambition it.—Knick. Mag., xlix. 39 (Jan.).
1861. He harped on the “Jurist” part of the matter, which is a character I rather ambition.—‘Letters of Lord Blachford,’ Feb. 23, p. 230.
