v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Desired p. pr. & vb. n. Desiring. ] [ F. désirer, L. desiderare, origin uncertain, perh. fr. de- + sidus star, constellation, and hence orig., to turn the eyes from the stars. Cf. Consider, and Desiderate, and see Sidereal. ] 1. To long for; to wish for earnestly; to covet. [ 1913 Webster ]

Neither shall any man desire thy land. Ex. xxxiv. 24. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ye desire your child to live. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To express a wish for; to entreat; to request. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? 2 Kings iv. 28. [ 1913 Webster ]

Desire him to go in; trouble him no more. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To require; to demand; to claim. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A doleful case desires a doleful song. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To miss; to regret. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

She shall be pleasant while she lives, and desired when she dies. Jer. Taylor.

Syn. -- To long for; hanker after; covet; wish; ask; request; solicit; entreat; beg. -- To Desire, Wish. In desire the feeling is usually more eager than in wish. “I wish you to do this” is a milder form of command than “I desire you to do this, ” though the feeling prompting the injunction may be the same. C. J. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. désir, fr. désirer. See Desire, v. t. ] 1. The natural longing that is excited by the enjoyment or the thought of any good, and impels to action or effort its continuance or possession; an eager wish to obtain or enjoy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Unspeakable desire to see and know. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An expressed wish; a request; petition. [ 1913 Webster ]

And slowly was my mother brought
To yield consent to my desire. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Anything which is desired; an object of longing. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Desire of all nations shall come. Hag. ii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Excessive or morbid longing; lust; appetite. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Grief; regret. [ Obs. ] Chapman.

Syn. -- Wish; appetency; craving; inclination; eagerness; aspiration; longing. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Filled with desire; eager. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The desireful troops. Godfrey (1594). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being desireful; eagerness to obtain and possess. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The desirefulness of our minds much augmenteth and increaseth our pleasure. Udall. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Free from desire. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who desires, asks, or wishes. [ 1913 Webster ]