desirous

[dih-zahyuh r-uh s]

See more synonyms for desirous on Thesaurus.com

adjective

having or characterized by desire; desiring: desirous of high political office.

Origin of desirous

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English word from Old French word desireus. See desire, -ous

Related formsde·sir·ous·ly, adverbde·sir·ous·ness, nounnon·de·sir·ous, adjectiveo·ver·de·sir·ous, adjectiveo·ver·de·sir·ous·ly, adverbo·ver·de·sir·ous·ness, nounpre·de·sir·ous, adjectivepre·de·sir·ous·ly, adverbsu·per·de·sir·ous, adjectivesu·per·de·sir·ous·ly, adverbun·de·sir·ous, adjectiveun·de·sir·ous·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for desirous

Contemporary Examples

More painful is that a wide swath of the haredi population is ready and desirous for a more complete life.
Voting For Yair Lapid, Israel’s Maimonides
Rabbi Daniel Landes
February 4, 2013
Her prior experience as a Wall Street whistle-blower had not left her desirous of more tumultuous press attention.
Noreen Harrington: The Mets’ Madoff Whistle-Blower
Michael Daly
March 19, 2012
This makes you, at turns, desirous of luxury and monkish asceticism, as you strike a balance between the two.
The Stars Predict Your Week
Starsky + Cox
October 9, 2011

Historical Examples

He's very grateful and desirous to serve me; and I am more than repaid.
Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit
Charles Dickens
And why should he have saddened her by his doubts, since he was so desirous of her cure?
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
In his case, his friends not only recommended this, but he was desirous himself, of doing it.
Cleveland Past and Present
Maurice Joblin
But the brick-making did not suit the boy, who was ambitious, and desirous of learning.
Cleveland Past and Present
Maurice Joblin
I enclose the copy of my letter to my sister, which you are desirous to see.
Clarissa, Volume 3 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson

British Dictionary definitions for desirous

desirous

adjective

(usually postpositive and foll by of) having or expressing desire (for); having a wish or longing (for)

Derived Formsdesirously, adverbdesirousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for desirous

adj.

c.1300, from Anglo-French desirous, Old French desirros (11c., Modern French désireux), from Vulgar Latin *desiderosus, from stem of Latin desiderare (see desire (v.)).

desirous

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}desirous

Examples from the Web for desirous

Contemporary Examples

More painful is that a wide swath of the haredi population is ready and desirous for a more complete life.

Her prior experience as a Wall Street whistle-blower had not left her desirous of more tumultuous press attention.

This makes you, at turns, desirous of luxury and monkish asceticism, as you strike a balance between the two.

Historical Examples

He's very grateful and desirous to serve me; and I am more than repaid.

And why should he have saddened her by his doubts, since he was so desirous of her cure?

In his case, his friends not only recommended this, but he was desirous himself, of doing it.

But the brick-making did not suit the boy, who was ambitious, and desirous of learning.

I enclose the copy of my letter to my sister, which you are desirous to see.

desirous

Word Origin and History for desirous

adj.

Origin of desirous