desiderate
Very LowFormal, Literary, Archaic
Definition
Meaning
to feel the absence or lack of something; to long for or miss something needed or desired
to feel the want of something, especially when its absence is perceived as a deficiency or loss
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This verb is rarely used in modern English and carries a formal or archaic tone. It denotes not merely wanting, but a conscious recognition of something missing that is deemed important or necessary.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare and formal in both dialects. No significant usage differences.
Connotations
Connotes a somewhat elevated, scholarly, or old-fashioned style in both dialects.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both UK and US English; primarily encountered in older literary or philosophical texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Subject + desiderate + Object (thing longed for)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms with this word]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
May appear in historical, philosophical, or literary studies discussing older texts.
Everyday
Not used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- After the war, the nation began to desiderate a lasting peace.
- The quiet scholar seemed to desiderate nothing more than his books.
American English
- The community began to desiderate the sense of security they'd once known.
- In his later years, he would desiderate the energy of his youth.
adverb
British English
- [No established adverb form from 'desiderate']
American English
- [No established adverb form from 'desiderate']
adjective
British English
- [The adjective form 'desiderative' exists but is unrelated to this verb's core meaning in common use.]
American English
- [The adjective form 'desiderative' exists but is unrelated to this verb's core meaning in common use.]
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [Too rare and complex for A2 level]
- [Too rare and complex for B1 level]
- The poem expresses how the speaker desiderates a simpler time.
- One may not know what they desiderate until it is gone.
- The political treatise argues that a free society will always desiderate a balance between liberty and security.
- He came to desiderate not wealth, but the intellectual companionship he had left behind at university.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'desire' + 'desperate'. You 'desiderate' what you 'desire' so much you feel 'desperate' for its presence.
Conceptual Metaphor
ABSENCE IS A HOLLOW SPACE (to desiderate is to be aware of an empty space where something desired should be).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'желать' (to wish) which is more active. 'Desiderate' is more passive, focused on the sense of lack. Closer to 'ощущать недостаток' or 'испытывать нужду в'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in casual speech. Confusing it with 'desecrate' (to violate). Incorrectly using it as a synonym for 'designate'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'desiderate' MOST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and considered formal or archaic in modern English.
The related noun is 'desideratum' (plural: desiderata), meaning something that is needed or wanted.
It would sound very unusual and overly formal. Synonyms like 'want', 'lack', 'miss', or 'long for' are far more appropriate.
'Desire' is a general term for wanting something. 'Desiderate' is more specific, implying a conscious feeling of the absence or lack of something considered necessary or important.