unwish
Very rare / ObsoleteLiterary, archaic, poetic
Definition
Meaning
to cease to wish for something; to retract or revoke a wish.
The act of no longer desiring something previously wished for, often implying a conscious decision to withdraw a desire or to see the undesirability of a prior wish.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Unwish" is a back-formation from "unwished." Its usage is exceptionally rare in modern English and is primarily encountered in historical or deliberately archaic/poetic contexts. It describes a nuanced, reflective psychological action.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage due to its extreme rarity. Both varieties treat it as an archaic/literary term.
Connotations
Equally archaic and literary in both dialects.
Frequency
Effectively zero in contemporary usage for both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Subject + unwish + object (the thing no longer desired)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None in common usage.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistic or literary analysis.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He came bitterly to unwish the fame he had once so desperately sought.
- If I could, I would unwish every careless wish I made at that well.
American English
- She began to unwish her success when she saw its cost in privacy.
- To unwish a thing is sometimes wiser than to attain it.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- In the old tale, the genie warned the man he could not unwish his third wish.
- With time, she came to unwish the hasty promises of her youth.
- The philosopher argued that to truly mature is to learn to unwish as fervently as one once learned to wish.
- His later poems are full of a desire to unwish the past, to revoke the very passions that shaped him.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: To put an UN-doing on a WISH, like taking back a birthday wish because you realize it might bring trouble.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESIRE IS A REVOCABLE CONTRACT (you can nullify it).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'нежелание' (unwillingness). 'Unwish' is an active verb, not a state. A closer conceptual match might be 'отказаться от желания' or 'передумать желать'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in modern, casual speech. Treating it as a common verb like 'want' or 'not want'. Using it as a noun (the noun is not attested).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'unwish' be most appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and considered archaic or literary. You will almost never encounter it in everyday modern English.
No, standard dictionaries only list it as a verb. The related adjective is 'unwished' (as in 'unwished-for').
'Regret' is a broader feeling of sadness or disappointment about something that happened. 'Unwish' is more specific: it means to actively withdraw or take back a *wish* or *desire* you previously held.
Only if you are aiming for a deliberately archaic, poetic, or highly stylized literary effect. In all other contexts, use more common synonyms like 'renounce,' 'take back,' or 'no longer want.'