Deficiency; defect; the absence of that which is necessary or useful; as a want of power or knowledge for any purpose; want of food and clothing. The want of money is a common want. Corinthians 8:14; 2 Corinthians 9:12. From having wishes in consequence of our wants, we often feel wants in consequence of our wishes.

Need; necessity; the effect of deficiency. Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and more saucy.

Poverty; penury; indigence. Nothing is so hard for those who abound in riches as to conceive how others can be in want.

The state of not having. I cannot write a letter at present for want of time.

That which is not possessed, but is desired or necessary for use or pleasure. Habitual superfluities become actual wants.

A mole.

To be destitute; to be deficient in; not to have; a word of general application; as, to want knowledge; to want judgment; to want learning; to want food and clothing; to want money.

To be defective or deficient in. Timber may want strength or solidity to answer its purpose.

To fall short; not to contain or have. The sum want a dollar of the amount of debt. Nor think, though men were none, that heaven would want spectators, God want praise.

To be without. The unhappy never want enemies.

To need; to have occasion for, as useful, proper or requisite. Our manners want correction. In winter we want a fire; in summer we want cooling breezes. We all want more public spirit and more virtue.

To wish for; to desire. Every man wants a little pre-eminence over his neighbor. Many want that which they cannot obtain, and which if they could obtain, would certainly ruin them. What wants my son?N .

waunt.

To be deficient; not to be sufficient. As in bodies, thus in souls, we find what wants in blood and spirits, swelld with wind.

To fail; to be deficient; to be lacking. No time shall find me wanting to my truth.

To be missed; not to be present. The jury was full, wanting one.

To fall short; to be lacking. Twelve, wanting one, he slew.