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Find vs Wish - What's the difference?

find | wish |

As verbs the difference between find and wish

is that find is to encounter or discover by accident; to happen upon while wish is (label) to desire; to want.

As nouns the difference between find and wish

is that find is anything that is found (usually valuable), as objects on an archeological site or a person with talent while wish is a desire, hope, or longing for something or for something to happen.

find

English

Verb

  • To encounter or discover by accident; to happen upon.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Searching the window for a flint, I found / This paper, thus sealed up.
  • * Cowley
  • In woods and forests thou art found .
  • To encounter or discover something being searched for; to locate.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=2 , passage=I had occasion […] to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return […] I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, […], and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town.}}
  • * , chapter=10
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant.}}
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=January 25, author=Paul Fletcher, work=BBC
  • , title= Arsenal 3-0 Ipswich (agg. 3-1) , passage=Van Persie scored a hat-trick against Wigan on Saturday and should have found' the net again after Bendtner ' found him at the far post but the Dutchman's header rebounded to safety off the crossbar.}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Welcome to the plastisphere , passage=Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick are already familiar to experts in the field. Dr Mincer and Dr Amaral-Zettler found evidence of them on their marine plastic, too.}}
  • To point out.
  • To decide that, to discover that, to form the opinion that.
  • * Shakespeare
  • I find you passing gentle.
  • * Cowley
  • The torrid zone is now found habitable.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
  • , chapter=1 citation , passage=“[…] the awfully hearty sort of Christmas cards that people do send to other people that they don't know at all well. You know. The kind that have mottoes
  • To determine or judge.
  • To arrive at, as a conclusion; to determine as true; to establish.
  • to find''' a verdict; to '''find a true bill (of indictment) against an accused person
  • * Shakespeare
  • to find his title with some shows of truth
  • To discover by study or experiment direct to an object or end.
  • Water is found to be a compound substance.
  • To gain, as the object of desire or effort.
  • to find''' leisure; to '''find means
  • To attain to; to arrive at; to acquire.
  • Looks like he found himself a new vehicle!
    After a long flight, I now find myself in San Francisco.
  • (archaic) To provide for; to supply; to furnish.
  • to find food for workmen
    He finds his nephew in money.
  • * London Times
  • Wages £14 and all found .
  • * Charles Dickens
  • Nothing a day and find yourself.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Antonyms

    * lose

    Derived terms

    See also'' finding''' ''and'' ' found * find fault * find one's feet * find out

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Anything that is found (usually valuable), as objects on an archeological site or a person with talent.
  • The act of finding.
  • Synonyms

    * (anything found) discovery, catch

    Statistics

    *

    wish

    English

    Noun

    (es)
  • a desire, hope, or longing for something or for something to happen
  • an expression of such a desire etc.
  • the process of expressing or thinking about such a desire etc. (often connected with ideas of magic and supernatural power(s)
  • the thing desired or longed for
  • Your dearest wish will come true.
  • * 1901 , , (w, The Monkey's Paw)
  • "I suppose all old soldiers are the same," said Mrs White. "The idea of our listening to such nonsense! How could wishes be granted in these days? And if they could, how could two hundred pounds hurt you, father?" / "Might drop on his head from the sky," said the frivolous Herbert.
  • (Sussex) a water meadow.
  • Usage notes

    * Collocates with make for the common expression make a wish . See

    Derived terms

    (Terms derived from the noun "wish") * death wish * best wishes * good wishes * make a wish * wishbone * wishful * wish list/wishlist/wish-list * your wish is my command

    See also

    * precatory * velleity

    Verb

    (es)
  • (label) To desire; to want.
  • * (William Shakespeare)
  • I would not wish / Any companion in the world but you.
  • *
  • , passage=Yesterday, upon the stair / I met a man who wasn’t there / He wasn’t there again today / I wish', I ' wish he’d go away …}}
  • To hope (for a particular outcome).
  • * (John Arbuthnot) (1667-1735)
  • This is as good an argument as an antiquary could wish for.
  • * 1901 , , (w, The Monkey's Paw)
  • Mr. White took the paw from his pocket and eyed it dubiously. "I don't know what to wish for, and that's a fact," he said slowly. "It seems to me I've got all I want."
  • To bestow (a thought or gesture) towards (someone or something).
  • * (William Shakespeare)
  • I would not wish them to a fairer death.
  • * Bible, (Psalms) xl. 14
  • Let them be driven backward, and put to shame, that wish me evil.
  • To request or desire to do an activity.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author=(Henry Petroski)
  • , title= Geothermal Energy , volume=101, issue=4, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.}}
  • (label) To recommend; to seek confidence or favour on behalf of.
  • * (Ben Jonson)
  • I was wished to your worship by a gentleman.

    Usage notes

    * In sense 3, this is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See

    Derived terms

    (Terms derived from the verb "wish") * as you wish * half wish * I wish * unwish * well-wisher * wisher * you wish