want

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To feel that you would like to have or do something.

   I want a glass of water.

2. 2
   verb

   To wish for someone to be present or to do something.

   I want you here at noon!

3. 3
   verb

   To need something.

   This piano wants the attention of a good tuner.

From Middle English wanten (“to lack, to need”), from Old Norse vanta (“to lack”), from Proto-Germanic *wanatōną (“to be wanting, lack”), from *wanô (“lack, deficiency”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁weh₂- (“empty”). Cognate with Middle High German wan (“not full, empty”), Middle Dutch wan (“empty, poor”), Old English wana (“want, lack, absence, deficiency”), Latin vanus (“empty”). See wan, wan-.

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