Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - wish

 I. verb  Etymology: Middle English wisshen, from Old English wy?scan; akin to Old High German wunsken to ~, Sanskrit vanchati he ~es, vanoti he strives for — more at win  Date: before 12th century  transitive verb  1. to have a desire for (as something unattainable) ~ed he could live his life over  2. to give expression to as a ~ ; bid ~ them good night  3.  a. to give form to (a ~)  b. to express a ~ for  c. to request in the form of a ~ ; order  d. to desire (a person or thing) to be as specified cannot ~ our problems away  4. to confer (something unwanted) on someone ; foist  intransitive verb  1. to have a desire ; want ~ing for more  2. to make a ~ ~ on a falling star  Synonyms: see desire  • ~er noun  II. noun  Date: 14th century  1.  a. an act or instance of ~ing or desire ; want a ~ to travel  b. an object of desire ; goal  2.  a. an expressed will or desire ; mandate  b. a request or command couched as a ~  3. an invocation of good or evil fortune on someone