English word wish comes from Proto-Indo-European *wenh₁-, and later Old English wyscan (To wish.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *wenh₁- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | desire |
| *wunskaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| wȳsċan | Old English (ang) | |
| wyscan | Old English (ang) | To wish. |
| wuschen | Middle English (enm) | |
| wish | English (en) | (ditransitive) To bestow (a thought or gesture) towards (someone or something).. (intransitive, followed by for) To hope (for a particular outcome).. (intransitive, followed by to and an infinitive) To request or desire to do an activity.. (transitive) To desire; to want.. (transitive) To recommend; to seek confidence or favour on behalf of. (Sussex) a water meadow.. A desire, hope, or [...] |