de|sir´er

de|sire «dih ZYR», noun, verb, -sired, -sir|ing.

–n.

1. a wanting or longing; strong wish: »

His desire is to travel. His predominant passion was desire of money (Samuel Johnson).

2. a wish expressed in words; request: »

I sent you, at your desire, the articles you wanted.

3. a thing wished for: »

His greatest desire was a bicycle. The desire of all nations is peace.

4. sensual appetite; lust.

–v.t.

1. to wish earnestly for; long for: »

The orphan desired love and approval.

SYNONYM(S): long, yearn, crave. See syn. under wish. (Cf. ↑wish)

2. to express a wish for; ask for: »

The principal desires your presence in his office. I desired a room for the night.

3. Archaic. to miss; regret the loss of.

4. Obsolete. to invite.

–v.i.

to have or feel a desire. SYNONYM(S): long, yearn, crave. See syn. under wish. (Cf. ↑wish)

╂[< Old French desirer < Latin dēsīderāre long for; (originally) to await the fate which the stars bring < dē- from + sīdus, -eris constellation. See etym. of doublet desiderate. (Cf. ↑desiderate)]

–de|sir´er, noun.

Synonym Study noun. 1 Desire, longing, craving mean a strong wish. Desire applies to any strong wish, good or bad, for something a person thinks or hopes he can get: »

She felt a great desire to see her birthplace again.

Longing applies to an earnest or enduring desire, sometimes for something a person thinks he can get if he tries or wishes hard enough, but often for something that seems beyond reach: »

the longing for the return of spring. His longing for a bicycle is pathetic.

Craving applies to a desire so strong that it amounts to a need or hunger: »

a craving for excitement, a craving for candy.