Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Want

Want

(277)
,
Noun.
[Originally an adj., from Icel.
vant
, neuter of
vanr
lacking, deficient. √139. See
Wane
,
Verb.
I.
]
1.
The state of not having; the condition of being without anything; absence or scarcity of what is needed or desired; deficiency; lack;
as, a
want
of power or knowledge for any purpose;
want
of food and clothing.
And me, his parent, would full soon devour
For
want
of other prey.
Milton.
From having wishes in consequence of our
wants
, we often feel
wants
in consequence of our wishes.
Rambler.
Pride is as loud a beggar as
want
, and more saucy.
Franklin.
2.
Specifically, absence or lack of necessaries; destitution; poverty; penury; indigence; need.
Nothing is so hard for those who abound in riches, as to conceive how others can be in
want
.
Swift.
3.
That which is needed or desired; a thing of which the loss is felt; what is not possessed, and is necessary for use or pleasure.
Habitual superfluities become actual
wants
.
Paley.
4.
(Mining)
A depression in coal strata, hollowed out before the subsequent deposition took place.
[Eng.]
Syn. – Indigence; deficiency; defect; destitution; lack; failure; dearth; scarceness.

Want

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Wanted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Wanting
.]
1.
To be without; to be destitute of, or deficient in; not to have; to lack;
as, to
want
knowledge; to
want
judgment; to
want
learning; to
want
food and clothing.
They that
want
honesty,
want
anything.
Beau. & Fl.
Nor think, though men were none,
That heaven would
want
spectators, God
want
praise.
Milton.
The unhappy never
want
enemies.
Richardson.
2.
To have occasion for, as useful, proper, or requisite; to require; to need;
as, in winter we
want
a fire; in summer we
want
cooling breezes
.
3.
To feel need of; to wish or long for; to desire; to crave.
“ What wants my son?”
Addison.
I
want
to speak to you about something.
A. Trollope.

Want

,
Verb.
I.
[Icel.
vanta
to be wanting. See
Want
to lack.]
1.
To be absent; to be deficient or lacking; to fail; not to be sufficient; to fall or come short; to lack; – often used impersonally with of;
as, it
wants
ten minutes of four
.
The disposition, the manners, and the thoughts are all before it; where any of those are
wanting
or imperfect, so much
wants
or is imperfect in the imitation of human life.
Dryden.
2.
To be in a state of destitution; to be needy; to lack.
You have a gift, sir (thank your education),
Will never let you
want
.
B. Jonson.
For as in bodies, thus in souls, we find
What
wants
in blood and spirits, swelled with wind.
Pope.
Want was formerly used impersonally with an indirect object. “Him wanted audience.”
Chaucer.

Webster 1828 Edition


Want

WANT

,
Noun.
1.
Deficiency; defect; the absence of that which is necessary or useful; as a want of power or knowledge fro any purpose; want of food and clothing. The want of money is a common want. 2 Corinthians 8, 9.
From having wishes in consequence of our wants, we often feel wants in consequence of our wishes.
2.
Need; necessity; the effect of deficiency.
Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and more saucy.
3.
Poverty; penury; indigence.
Nothing is so hard for those who abound in riches as to conceive how others can be in want.
4.
The state of not having. I cannot write a letter at present for want of time.
5.
That which is not possessed, but is desired or necessary for use or pleasure.
Habitual superfluities become actual wants.
6.
A mole.

WANT

,
Verb.
T.
waunt.
1.
To be destitute; to be deficient in; not to have; a word of general application; as, to want knowledge; to want judgment; to want learning; to want food and clothing; to want money.
2.
To be defective or deficient in. Timber may want strength or solidity to answer its purpose.
3.
To fall short; not to contain or have. The sum want a dollar of the amount of debt.
Nor think, though men were none, that heaven would want spectators, God want praise.
4.
To be without.
The unhappy never want enemies.
5.
To need; to have occasion for, as useful, proper or requisite. Our manners want correction. In winter we want a fire; in summer we want cooling breezes. We all want more public spirit and more virtue.
6.
To wish for; to desire. Every man wants a little pre-eminence over his neighbor. Many want that which they cannot obtain, and which if they could obtain, would certainly ruin them.
What wants my son?

WANT

,
Verb.
I.
waunt.
1.
To be deficient; not to be sufficient.
As in bodies, thus in souls, we find what wants in blood and spirits, swelld with wind.
2.
To fail; to be deficient; to be lacking.
No time shall find me wanting to my truth.
3.
To be missed; not to be present. The jury was full, wanting one.
4.
To fall short; to be lacking.
Twelve, wanting one, he slew.