WANT, n. 1. Deficiency; defect; the absence of that which is necessary or useful; as a want of power or knowledge fro any purpose; want of food and clothing. The want of money is a common want. 2 Corinthians 8, 9.From having wishes in consequence of our wants, we often feel wants in consequence of our wishes.2. Need; necessity; the effect of deficiency.Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and more saucy.3. Poverty; penury; indigence.Nothing is so hard for those who abound in riches as to conceive how others can be in want.4. The state of not having. I cannot write a letter at present for want of time.5. That which is not possessed, but is desired or necessary for use or pleasure.Habitual superfluities become actual wants.6. A mole.WANT, v.t. waunt. 1. To be destitute; to be deficient in; not to have; a word of general application; as, to want knowledge; to want judgment; to want learning; to want food and clothing; to want money.2. To be defective or deficient in. Timber may want strength or solidity to answer its purpose.3. To fall short; not to contain or have. The sum want a dollar of the amount of debt.Nor think, though men were none, that heaven would want spectators, God want praise.4. To be without.The unhappy never want enemies.5. To need; to have occasion for, as useful, proper or requisite. Our manners want correction. In winter we want a fire; in summer we want cooling breezes. We all want more public spirit and more virtue.6. To wish for; to desire. Every man wants a little pre-eminence over his neighbor. Many want that which they cannot obtain, and which if they could obtain, would certainly ruin them.What wants my son?WANT, v.i. waunt. 1. To be deficient; not to be sufficient.As in bodies, thus in souls, we find what wants in blood and spirits, swelld with wind.2. To fail; to be deficient; to be lacking.No time shall find me wanting to my truth.3. To be missed; not to be present. The jury was full, wanting one.4. To fall short; to be lacking.Twelve, wanting one, he slew.
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