Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Want?

\Want\ (277), n. [Originally an adj., from Icel. vant, neuter of vanr lacking, deficient. [root]139. See {Wane}, v. 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\, v. 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\, v. 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. Note: Want was formerly used impersonally with an indirect object. ``Him wanted audience.'' --Chaucer.