\Want\ (277), n. [Originally an adj., from Icel. vant,
neuter of vanr lacking, deficient. [root]139. See {Wane}, v.
i.]
1. The state of not having; the condition of being without
   anything; absence or scarcity of what is needed or
   desired; deficiency; lack; as, a want of power or
   knowledge for any purpose; want of food and clothing.
         And me, his parent, would full soon devour For want
         of other prey.                        --Milton.
         From having wishes in consequence of our wants, we
         often feel wants in consequence of our wishes.
                                               --Rambler.
         Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and more saucy.
                                               --Franklin.
2. Specifically, absence or lack of necessaries; destitution;
   poverty; penury; indigence; need.
         Nothing is so hard for those who abound in riches,
         as to conceive how others can be in want. --Swift.
3. That which is needed or desired; a thing of which the loss
   is felt; what is not possessed, and is necessary for use
   or pleasure.
         Habitual superfluities become actual wants. --Paley.
4. (Mining) A depression in coal strata, hollowed out before
   the subsequent deposition took place. [Eng.]
Syn: Indigence; deficiency; defect; destitution; lack;
     failure; dearth; scarceness.

\Want\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Wanted}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Wanting}.]
1. To be without; to be destitute of, or deficient in; not to
   have; to lack; as, to want knowledge; to want judgment; to
   want learning; to want food and clothing.
         They that want honesty, want anything. --Beau. & Fl.
         Nor think, though men were none, That heaven would
         want spectators, God want praise.     --Milton.
         The unhappy never want enemies.       --Richardson.
2. To have occasion for, as useful, proper, or requisite; to
   require; to need; as, in winter we want a fire; in summer
   we want cooling breezes.
3. To feel need of; to wish or long for; to desire; to crave.
   `` What wants my son?'' --Addison.
         I want to speak to you about something. --A.
                                               Trollope.

\Want\, v. i. [Icel. vanta to be wanting. See {Want} to
lack.]
1. To be absent; to be deficient or lacking; to fail; not to
   be sufficient; to fall or come short; to lack; -- often
   used impersonally with of; as, it wants ten minutes of
   four.
         The disposition, the manners, and the thoughts are
         all before it; where any of those are wanting or
         imperfect, so much wants or is imperfect in the
         imitation of human life.              --Dryden.
2. To be in a state of destitution; to be needy; to lack.
         You have a gift, sir (thank your education), Will
         never let you want.                   --B. Jonson.
         For as in bodies, thus in souls, we find What wants
         in blood and spirits, swelled with wind. --Pope.
Note: Want was formerly used impersonally with an indirect
      object. ``Him wanted audience.'' --Chaucer.