Want sb.2. World English Historical Dictionary

Want sb.2. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1928, rev. 2024. Want sb.2 Also 2–3 wannt, 4–5 wont, 4–6 wante, 6 wannte. [a. ON. vant neut. of van-r adj. lacking, missing (see WANE a.), also quasi-sb. in such expressions as var þeim vettugis vant, they were in want of nothing; var vant kýr, a cow was missing. Mod. NFris. waant lack, fault (Sylt), need, lack, necessity, starvation (Amrum), is perhaps derived from the vb. of identical form (see WANT v.), and ultimately of Scandinavian origin. In English also, in later usage, the sb. is often a direct derivative from the vb. (q.v.). Cf. also QUART a. and sb.1, SCANT a. etc.]

1   † 1.  predicatively, or quasi-adj. (Something that is) wanting, missing. In Ormin const. with dative. Obs. rare.

2 c. 1200.  Ormin, 14398. Acc hemm wass wannt gastlic innsihht I þeȝȝre gode lare.

3 c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 1914. Troye newe ys Trenouant, Two wordes in on, & non ys want.

4 c. 1400.  Rule St. Benet, xxvii. 22. Þe gude herde, þat lefte in þe munte ane wane of a hundrez sep, and yede at seke þis ane þat was want.

5   2.  Deficiency, shortage, lack (of something desirable or necessary, esp. a quality or attribute).

6   No want (of): no lack, abundance (of). † Without want: without deficiency in any point (obs.).

7 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 10406. Þai þat stad er in þair blis, Witvten want has alle þair wis.

8 13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 131. Now wyl I of hor seruise say yow no more, For vch wyȝe may wel wit no wont þat þer were.

9 1530.  Palsgr., 286/2. Want of beauty, laideur.

10 1587.  Mascall, Bk. Cattle, Hogs (1596), 261. The forrests and commons are most conuenient for them to feede on … where there is want of such trees ye must haue them to other feeding ground.

11 1611.  Bible, Judg. xix. 19. There is both straw and prouender for our asses, and there is bread and wine also for me and for thy handmaid…: there is no want of any thing.

12 1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., I. viii. 34. ’Tis the want of Discretion that makes the difference.

13 1684.  Roscommon, Ess. Transl. Verse, 114. Immodest words admit of no defence, For want of Decency is want of Sense.

14 1775.  Franklin, Lett. to M. Dumas, 9 Dec. Their total want of English is at present an obstruction to their getting any employment among us.

15 1825.  Scott, Talism., x. He retained also a general sense of respect for his own reputation, which sometimes supplies the want of the better principles by which reputation is to be maintained.

16 1844.  H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, III. 97. The want of cattle for the conveyance of stores and baggage was one of the most serious obstacles of the march of the army.

17 1859.  H. Kingsley, G. Hamlyn, xxxiv. A miserable faction … have assumed the reins of government, and, in spite of three votes of want of confidence, persist in retaining the seals of office.

18 1870.  Pall Mall Gaz., 23 Sept., 10/1. Owing to the confusion incident to this arrangement, or want of arrangement, the duties proper to each institution are inefficiently discharged.

19 1884.  Law Times Rep., LXXIII. 616/2, note. The deceased was also guilty of negligence or of want of reasonable care contributing to the accident.

20   † b.  pl. Instances of shortage. Obs.

21 1660.  in J. Simon, Ess. Irish Coins (1749), 127. And so proportionable for greater or less wants of weight in the said pieces [coins].

22 a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 23 June 1689. An extraordinary drowth, to the threatening of great wants as to the fruits of the earth.

23 1751.  Labelye, Westm. Bridge, 75. Difficulties occasioned by … frequent Wants of Stone, which was kept from us by long easterly Winds.

24   c.  For (occas. by, from, in, through) want of: for lack of; because of the absence or deficiency of.

25 c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 12085. Antenor … denyet hym onon, þat noqwere he knew Þat commly be keppet, ne in cloese haldyn. Þen wrathid þo worthi [Agamemnon] for wont of þe burde.

26 1556.  Rec. Inverness (New Spalding Club), I. 2. That day … assingit to James Paterson … to preif quhat skayth he had sustenit in want of his boyt quhilkis Necoll Kar intromettit with.

27 1573–80.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 31. For want of seede, land yeeldeth weede.

28 1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., II. i. 172. For often haue you writ to her: and she in modesty, Or else for want of idle time, could not againe reply.

29 1608.  Pennyless Parl. Threadbare Poets, in Harl. Misc. (1744), I. 180. Many, for Want of Wit, shall sell their Freehold for Tobacco-pipes and red Petticoats.

30 a. 1633.  G. Herbert, Outlandish Prov. (1640), 499. For want of a naile the shoe is lost, for want of a shoe the horse is lost, for want of a horse the rider is lost.

31 1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 796. ’Twas then that Buffalo’s, ill pair’d, were seen To draw the Carr of Jove’s Imperial Queen For want of Oxen.

32 1742.  Kames, Decis. Crt. Sess. 1730–52 (1799), 55. When a man is pinched for want of money, he will submit to any conditions, however hard, to come at it.

33 1808.  E. S. Barrett, Miss-led General, 136. They could not pursue them for want of cavalry.

34 1848.  Dickens, Dombey, xlv. I have deferred doing so, for want of opportunity.

35 1872.  Bryant, Pract. Surg. (1884), I. 778. Umbilical Hernia … is common in children from want of closure of the umbilicus.

36 1889.  ‘J. S. Winter,’ Mrs. Bob, x. (1891), 125. He … had no notion of losing anything for the want of asking for it.

37 1891.  Law Times, XCII. 125/1. An agreement in writing which they cannot produce in the County Court for want of a stamp.

38   † d.  In (rarely in the) want of: failing; in the absence of (something needed or desired). Obs.

39 1655.  Culpepper, etc., Riverius, X. vi. 298. In want of Milk, you may give Almond Milk, or Barley Cream, or Rice Milk.

40 1729.  Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 186. There is just the same reason for quiet resignation in the want of every thing equally unattainable.

41   3.  The state of lacking the necessaries of life; penury; destitution. Also, the condition of lacking food; famine; starvation. To come to want: to be reduced to penury.

42 1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 857. For-þi bi-houus ȝou, haþel, harde to libbe & wo drie in þis word for wante & for nede! Ibid., 867. Swich hungur as ȝe han by-houus ȝou þolie, &, be ȝou lef oþur loþ libben in wante.

43 1597.  Extracts Munic. Acc. Newcastle (1848), 44. Paide for the charges of buringe 9 poore folkes who died for wante in the streetes, for their graves making, 3s.

44 1610.  Shaks., Temp., IV. i. 116. Scarcity and want shall shun you, Ceres’ blessing so is on you.

45 1633.  P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., VII. xix. And with him [Porneius] Wastefulnesse, that all expended, And Want, that still in theft and prison ended.

46 1653.  W. Ramesey, Astrol. Restored, 241. The People generally shall be driven to want.

47 a. 1718.  Prior, Knowledge, 622. Whilst We struggle in this Vale beneath, With Want and Sorrow.

48 1766.  Goldsm., Hermit, 13. Here to the houseless child of want My door is open still.

49 1782.  Miss Burney, Cecilia, IV. x. Who could have thought of his living so among the great folks, and then coming to want!

50 1840.  Dickens, Old C. Shop, lxxiii. Through the same kind agency, his mother was secured from want, and made quite happy.

51 1866.  Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., ix. (1878), 162. Many was the time that want had come in at her door.

52 1888.  Bryce, Amer. Commw., cxii. III. 607. In Europe … he will perceive that by far the greater number lead very laborious lives, and are … liable to fall into want.

53 1900.  R. S. Barbour, Thoughts (1909), 46. Want is a mighty leveller.

54   Prov.  1736.  Bailey (fol.), s.v. Waste, Wilful Waste makes woful Want.

55   † b.  pl. Straits; circumstances (or times) of want, hardship, suffering, etc. Obs.

56 1588.  Penry (title), A viewe of some part of such publike wants and disorders as are in the seruice of God, within … Wales.

57 1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, III. x. § 13. 124. Hitherto the danger of enemies and miseries of weather and wants, had kept the companie in firme unitie.

58 1653.  Holcroft, Procopius, Vandal Wars, II. 47. In the mean time Jabdas leaving a sufficient guard for the Castle was gone up to the top of Aurasium, fearing to be blockt up in the Castle, and reduced to wants.

59 1697.  Dryden, Æneis, VII. 1009. Rough Saticulans, inur’d to Wants.

60 1731.  in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 380. Ere long I shall be reduced to great wants.

61   † 4.  The fact that a person (rarely a thing) is not present; absence. Obs.

62 c. 1480.  Henryson, Want of Wyse Men, 8. Now sele is sorow, this is a wofull werde, Sen want of wyse men makis fulis to sit on binkis.

63 1581.  A. Hall, Iliad, I. 4. Sith I needes muste yeelde hir vp…. (Ah) take hir then … hir want I rather craue, Than that this people here, should not their health and safety haue.

64 1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. viii. 11. As when … An heard of Bulles … Do for the milkie mothers want complaine.

65 1591.  2nd Pt. Troub. Raigne K. John (1611), 73. The King entreats your soonest speed To visit him, who on your present want, Did ban and curse his birth, himselfe and me.

66 1610.  B. Jonson, Sp. Pr. Henry’s Barriers, 114. For being deprest a while, Want makes vs know the price of what we auile.

67 1611.  Tourneur, Ath. Trag., V. ii. The price of things is best known in their want.

68 a. 1625.  Fletcher, Women Pleas’d, III. iii. (1647), 34/2. Lord.… No roome in all the Court but we search’d through it Her women found her want first and they cry’d to us.

69 1633.  Shirley, Witty Fair One, I. i. I leaue her to your trust, And in my absence doubt not you will be Both Vncle and Father. Wor. Willingly…. I know she is your study, in your want I will put on your jealousie.

70 1831.  G. P. R. James, Phil. Augustus, ii. The want of his gauntlets and brassards showed his arms covered with a quilted jacket of crimson silk.

71   5.  A condition marked by the lack of some necessary thing, or requiring some extraneous aid or addition; need; also, an instance of this, and so freq. pl. (passing into the quasi-concr. sense ‘requirement,’ 5 b). Phrase, a (long-)felt want (also in sense 5 b). To supply (anticipate, consult, provide for, etc.) one’s wants: to satisfy (provide for, etc.) one’s needs.

72 1578.  H. Wotton, Courtlie Controv., 251. The Grecian Prince … caried a bagge full of winde to supply his want at all times.

73 1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., I. iii. 141. I would … Supplie your present wants.

74 1611.  Bible, Judg. xix. 20. Let all thy wants lie vpon me; only lodge not in the street.

75 1617.  Moryson, Itin., I. 62. The Citizens lay up corne brought out of Poland, and according to the wants of Europe, carry it into many kingdomes.

76 1648.  Gage, West Ind., 127. The Fryers … upon a sudden want or occasion take out from thence as much fish as will give the whole Cloister a dinner.

77 1790.  Burke, Fr. Rev., 83. Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants. Men have a right that these wants should be provided for by this wisdom. Among these wants is to be reckoned the want, out of civil society, of a sufficient restraint upon their passions.

78 1819.  Shelley, Cenci, II. ii. 12. The eldest son of a rich nobleman … has wide wants, and narrow powers.

79 1840.  Dickens, Old C. Shop, xi. Day after day, and night after night, found her still by the pillow of the unconscious sufferer, still anticipating his every want.

80 1876.  Mozley, Univ. Serm., xv. 258. As soon as one great want is satisfied another arises, and then another.

81   b.  quasi-concr. Something needed or required; a requirement, desideratum. Freq. pl.

82 1579.  in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 430. That no … tymber be ladden or transported oute of this towne … salfe onely fuell of wood for fyre and the presente wannte of repayringe of the shippis.

83 1589.  Hakluyt, Voy., Ep. Ded. ¶ 1. He pointed with his wand to all the knowen … Empires, Kingdomes, Dukedomes, and Territories of ech part, with declaration also of their speciall commodities, & particular wants.

84 c. 1645.  Howell, Lett. (1650), I. 169. For the soil of Spain, the fruitfulness of their vallies recompences the sterility of their hills; corn is their greatest want.

85 1785.  Paley, Mor. Philos., VI. xi. (1786), 593. Habitual superfluities become real wants.

86 1850.  Carlyle, Latter-day Pamph., i. (1872), 37. Your want of wants, I say, is that you be commanded in this world.

87 1861.  Flor. Nightingale, Nursing, 5. The remedies are just as well known; and among them is certainly not the establishment of a Child’s Hospital. This may be a want.

88 1872.  Bookseller, 2 April, 341, Advt. Wants and Vacancies. A Medium for the Selection of Servants and Situations. Price One Penny [bi-monthly].

89 1875.  J. H. Bennet, Winter Medit. (ed. 5), 408. Vividness in colour probably becomes an actual want to southerners.

90 1881.  Jowett, Thucyd., I. 177. You will gain the alliance of a great naval power, and a navy is your chief want.

91   c.  In want of: in need of; not having, or having in insufficient measure. In no want of: having abundantly.

92 1694.  Stanhope, Epictetus, etc. i. 28. Inanimate Creatures … are oftentimes in great want of some Quality or other; Heat, or Cold, or Drought, or Moisture.

93 1710.  Steele, Tatler, No. 5, ¶ 5. Their Troops were in Want of all Manner of Necessaries.

94 1769.  Blackstone, Comm., IV. ii. 31. A man in extreme want of food or clothing.

95 1837.  W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, II. xv. 269. You are more in want of horses than I am: keep him.

96 1853.  Dickens, Bleak Ho., xii. She is in no want of words to shower upon Rosa.

97   d.  Proverbial phrase, Then Want must be your master, etc., used in refusing a demand expressed by ‘I want ——.’

98 1731–8.  Swift, Pol. Conversat., i. 59. I want that Diamond-Ring of yours. Why, then, Want’s like to be your Master.

99 1828.  [J. P. Collier], Punch & Judy, 80. Punch. Come up stairs: I want you.
  Judy. Then want must be your master. I’m busy.

100   e.  ? A sense of need. rare.

101 1820.  Shelley, Sensit. Pl., I. 11. Like a doe in the noontide with love’s sweet want.

102 1894.  ‘G. Egerton,’ Discords, 179. The band up in the ‘umbrella’ strikes up the opening bars of a ‘Huldretanz,’ a weird witching thing with a want in it.

103   6.  † a. A defect, failing, fault; a shortcoming; rarely a natural blemish. Obs., and apparently almost confined to the 17th c.

104 1592.  Babington, Notes Genesis, ix. 38. Greater men then wee haue had theyr wants.

105 1599.  T. M[oufet], Silkwormes, 18. So perfit loue in mortals is not found Some little warts or wants in all we spie.

106 1603.  Breton, Post Packet Mad Lett. (Grosart), 14/1. Touching my husband, though his wants were grieuous, yet to want him is my greatest sorrow.

107 1611.  Beaum. & Fl., King & No K., I. (1619), 6. Were shee … So perfect, that no one of her owne sex Could finde a want.

108 1635.  Maldon (Essex) Borough Deeds, Bundle 80 No. 2 b. For repairinge and amendinge of the wants and present decayes of the bridges.

109 1677.  Sedley, Ant. & Cl., Wks. 1722, I. 122. A Sceptre may for pers’nal wants attone.

110 1728.  Young, Love Fame, ii. (1757), 95. Wants of all kinds are made to fame a plea; One learns to lisp; another, not to see.

111   b.  Sc. To have a want, to be mentally deficient.

112 1825.  Jamieson, Suppl. s.v., To Hae a want, to be under mental imbecility.

113 1826.  Galt, Last of Lairds, vii. 62. The whutch maid her jeer me as if I had a want, and been daft likewyse.

114 1879.  ‘S. Tytler,’ in Good Wds., 349. He has a ‘want,’ you know, and is not fit for much.

115   7.  A gap, hole, hollow. Obs. exc. dial. rare.

116 1663.  Baxter, Div. Life, I. x. (1664), 82. The wants in the wheels of your watch are as useful to the motion as the nucks or solid parts.

117 1725.  Bradley’s Family Dict., s.v. Saddle, The Saddle should be placed exactly on the middle of the Back, the Fore-bow just at the Want of the Shoulders.

118 1828.  Carr, Craven Gloss., Want, a deficiency or hollow place in a piece of timber, or the edge of a board.

119   8.  Coal-mining. = NIP sb.1

120 1867.  W. W. Smyth, Coal & Coal-mining, 26 [See NIP sb.1].

121   9.  Comb. as want-begotten, -creating ppl. adjs.; column (sense 5; cf. also ellipt. use of wanted pa. pple. in advertisements); see WANT v. 4.

122 1850.  Tennyson, In Mem., xxvii. 12. I envy not in any moods … The heart that never plighted troth But stagnates in the weeds of sloth; Nor any *want-begotten rest.

123 1901.  W. R. H. Trowbridge, Lett. her Mother to Eliz., iv. 14. Lady Beatrice found her [her cook] in the *Want column of the Standard.

124 1897.  Mary Kingsley, W. Africa, 65. The manifold, *want-creating culture of modern European civilisation and education.

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