Desire \De*sire"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Desired}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Desiring}.] [F. d['e]sirer, 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.

Neither shall any man desire thy land. --Ex. xxxiv.
24.

Ye desire your child to live. --Tennyson.

2. To express a wish for; to entreat; to request.

Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? --2
Kings iv. 28.

Desire him to go in; trouble him no more. --Shak.

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

A doleful case desires a doleful song. --Spenser.

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

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.

Usage: 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.