Several express their wish to silence her in unpleasant ways.

Might this 'confession' express a wish rather than report an actual attempt on his life?

And what did he express a wish to become?

When so many untalented people all express a wish to write, the public must be labouring under some strange misapprehensions as to the nature of literature.

When used on its own with a following verb, may express a wish or order, as in!