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tr.v. de·sired, de·sir·ing, de·sires 1. To wish or long for; want: a reporter who desires an interview; a teen who desires to travel. 2. To want to have sex with (another person). 3. To express a wish for; request. n. 1. a. The feeling of wanting to have something or wishing that something will happen. b. An instance of this feeling: She had a lifelong desire to visit China. 2. Sexual appetite; passion. 3. An object of such feeling or passion: A quiet evening with you is my only desire. 4. Archaic A request or petition. [Middle English desiren, from Old French desirer, from Latin dēsīderāre, to observe or feel the absence of, miss, desire : dē-, de- + , -sīderāre (as in cōnsīderāre, to observe attentively, contemplate; see CONSIDER).] de·sirer n. Synonyms: desire, covet, crave, want, wish These verbs mean to have a strong longing for: desire peace; coveted the new car; craving fame and fortune; wanted a drink of water; wished that she had gone to the beach. |
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