wish

noun

1. A desire, hope, or longing for something or for something to happen.

   “It is my wish that the bequest (should) be given to an almshouse.”

   “make someone's wish come true”

   “Send this message to six beings of your acquaintance, and your greatest wish shall come true!”

2. An expression of such a desire, often connected with ideas of magic and supernatural power.

   “make a wish”

   “LESTER: You believe in wishes? I mean, you believe they come true? CHESTER: Nah. I believe in wishes, but I don't believe they come true. Not unless it's a real easy wish, like "I wish I was at a birthday party." But you gotta blow out all the candles, or else the wish don't come true. If one candle stays lit, you don't get your wish.”

3. The thing desired or longed for.

   “My dearest wish is to see them happily married.”

   “You have my best wishes.”

   “"I suppose all old soldiers are the same," said Mrs White. "The idea of our listening to such nonsense! How could wishes be granted in these days? And if they could, how could two hundred pounds hurt you, father?" / "Might drop on his head from the sky," said the frivolous Herbert.”

4. A water meadow.

verb

1. (transitive)To desire; to want.

   “I'll come tomorrow, if you wish (it).”

   “I wish it to be known that I wish them all to leave the company.”

   “Anyone who wishes an aisle seat should see an attendant.”

   “Showing the population what we wish them to be is the best way for them to change.”

   “I would not wish / Any companion in the world but you.”

2. (archaic, transitive)To hope (+ object clause with may or in present subjunctive).

   “I wish he mean me well, that he takes so much pains!”

   “She hears that Miss Bigg is to be married in a fortnight. I wish it may be so.”

3. (intransitive)To hope (for a particular outcome), even if that outcome is unlikely to occur or cannot occur.

   “This is as good an argument as an antiquary could wish for.”

   “Mr. White took the paw from his pocket and eyed it dubiously. "I don't know what to wish for, and that's a fact," he said slowly. "It seems to me I've got all I want."”

   “I wish I could go back in time and teach myself what I know now.”

   “I wished (that) it would rain.”

4. (ditransitive)To bestow (a thought or gesture) towards (someone or something).

   “We wish you a merry Christmas.”

   “I would not wish them to a fairer death.”

   “Let them be driven backward, and put to shame, that wish me evil.”

5. (intransitive)To request or desire to do an activity.

   “Anyone who wishes to may leave now.”

   “Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.”

6. (transitive)To recommend; to seek confidence or favour on behalf of.

   “I was wished to your worship by a gentleman.”

   “Farewell: yet for the loue I beare my sweet Bianca, if I can by any meanes light on a fit man to teach her that wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father.”

name

1. A surname.

   “There was Evans, and that marvel among actors, Wish, who is also a modest man. We had all come down to the Mermaid Club that Saturday morning, except Clayton, who had slept there overnight […]”