desirefuladj.
Now rare.† 1. Greatly to be desired, desirable. Obsolete or archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > [adjective] > desirable
yearninglyOE
desiderablea1340
desirablea1382
desirefulc1384
dainteousc1386
fairc1410
desirous1430
expetible1569
lustful?1610
appetible1622
desiderate1640
honeysuckle1660
deligible1680
wantable1886
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Dan. x. 3 Y eete not desireful breede.
R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle Fire of Love 76 Delectabyl & desirefull it is in þi praysinge to be.
?1510 T. More tr. G. Pico della Mirandola in tr. G. F. Pico della Mirandola Lyfe I. Picus sig. d.v More desirefull is than to be condempned of ye worlde and exalted of god then to be exalted of the worlde and condemned of god.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1593) iv. sig. Oo1 Euery thing was eyther vehemently desirefull, or extreamely terrible.
1877 J. S. Blackie Wise Men Greece 68 A brood of desireful maidens immortal.
2. Full of desire; desirous; wishful, eager.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > [adjective] > desirous
willesfula1250
desirousc1300
wilful1340
desiringc1386
desireda1400
talentivec1400
willinga1425
lusty1493
desiranta1500
desireful?1520
fond1551
lusting1559
desirable1759
?1520 A. Barclay tr. Sallust Cron. Warre agaynst Iugurth xxix. f. 55 To suche desyrefull myndes as they had, nothyng coude to fast be hasted.
1540 R. Morison tr. J. L. Vives Introd. Wysedome (new ed.) Pref. sig. A ijv Alway helpynge some, and stylle desyrefull to helpe mo.
1556 N. Grimald tr. Cicero Thre Bks. Duties i. f. 61 So desirefull of..lerning the nature of thinges.
1892 C. E. Norton tr. Dante Divine Comedy III. v. 29 Beatrice..all desireful turned herself again to that region.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > [noun]
i-willc888
wilningc888
willingeOE
lustc950
listc1220
desire1303
affection1340
desiring1377
appetite1382
envya1400
wishc1430
desideryc1450
stomach1513
affect1531
wilnec1540
desirefulness1548
woulding1549
desirousness1571
ambition1579
lusting1580
listing1587
maw1601
appetition1603
appetence1610
bosoma1616
orexis1619
desirableness1649
appetency1656
would1753
wanting1801
want-to1903
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke Pref. 8 He with greate desirefulnesse useth to reade.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke ix. f. 56 Toke out of their stomakes all desierfulnesse of doyng vengeaunce.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online June 2020).
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adj.c1384