[f. WISH v. + -ING2.] That wishes, longing, desirous; expressing a wish.
† Wishing and woulding (quot. 1620): cf. prec. c.
1530. Palsgr., 329/2. Wysshynge, optatif.
1579–80. North, Plutarch, Solon & Publicola (1595), 121. In wishing manner, he would his end should be lamented to his praise.
1620. J. King, Serm., 24 March, 3. It is not a wishing and woulding mercy, but a preuailing, speeding, releeuing mercy.
1662. Howell, New Engl. Gram., 62. The Optatif or wishing Mood.
1703. Rowe, Ulysses, I. i. The wishing Warmth of Youth.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., III. iv. Return’d to cheer his wishing tenant’s sight.
1819. Shelley, Peter Bell 3rd, V. vi. Now Peter … Would … balk Some wishing guest of knife or fork.
Hence Wishingly adv., desirously, longingly; in quot. 1571, optatively.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. lxxii. 2. 269 b. Some reade it wishingly: Othersome reteine the future tence, so as it should bee a prophesie.
1731. Bailey (ed. 5), Desirously, wishingly.
