[f. WANT v. + -ER1.]
1. One who is deficient in something. ? Obs.
1611. J. Davies (Heref.), Sco. Folly (Grosart), 21/2. What should I thinke of courage? if it wants, The wanters are despis’d of God and men.
1886. Spectator, 13 Feb., 209/2. The wanters were many and the wealthy few.
2. One who is in need or desirous of something.
1727. Swift, Lett. to Mrs. Howard, 9 July. But you know too well already how very injudicious the general tribe of wanters are.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, VIII. 144. Suppose B, in such great want of this treasure, as to be unable to live without it. And suppose A, the Miser, has such an opinion of B, the Wanter, that he would rather lend it to him, than to any mortal living.
1867. Chamb. Jrnl., 21 Dec., 801. An exchange … in which the wanters and the wanted may meet.
b. One who seeks a husband or wife. dial.
1723. Ramsay, Fair Assembly, viii. Then, ilka wanter wale a wife, Ere eild and humdrums seize ye.
1804. R. Anderson, Cumbld. Ball., 82. There’s lads but few in our town, And lasses wanters plenty.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxviii. And dinna sneeze at Joe, if he should be for drawing up wi’ you,… he’s a handy boy, and a wanter.
1871. C. Gibbon, Lack of Gold, xxii. He did not belong to the set of lively ‘wanters’—as the bachelors were designated.
