Ww: Want

v. want·ed, want·ing, wants

v.tr.

1.

a. To desire greatly; wish for: They want to leave. She wants a glass of water. See Synonyms atdesire.

b. To desire (someone to do something): I want you to clean your room.

2.

a. To request the presence or assistance of: You are wanted by your office.

b. To seek with intent to capture: The fugitive is wanted by the police.

3. To have an inclination toward; like: Say what you want, but be tactful.

4. Informal To be obliged (to do something): You want to be careful on the ice.

5. To be without; lack. See Synonyms at lack.

6. To be in need of; require: "'Your hair wants cutting,' said the Hatter" (Lewis Carroll).

v.intr.

1. To have need: wants for nothing.

2. To be destitute or needy.

3. To be disposed; wish: Call me daily if you want.

n.

1. The condition or quality of lacking something usual or necessary: stayed home for want of anything better to do.

2. Pressing need; destitution: lives in want.

3. Something desired: a person of few wants and needs.

4. A defect of character; a fault.

Phrasal Verbs:

want in Slang

1. To desire greatly to enter: The dog wants in.

2. To wish to join a project, business, or other undertaking.

want out Slang

1. To desire greatly to leave: The cat wants out.

2. To wish to leave a project, a business, or other undertaking.

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[Middle English wanten, to be lacking, from Old Norse vanta; see eu- in Indo-European roots.]

Context: My pastor was using the second definition of want when we were discussing the word.   My mind was stuck on the first want which is a desire to do something out of a wish for, or a desire.   Often the words we use can have multiple meanings and our presupposition has captured only one of the two meanings. A mad hatter argues semantics without looking up a word in the dictionary. However, sometimes it is a fine thing to be crazy, for than you are free to say what you want to say, when you want to say it.