wanting
prepEtymology From Middle English wantyng, wantynge, wantand, equivalent to want + -ing.
1
Without, except, but.
2
Less, short of, minus.
wanting
adjUS /ˈwɑntɪŋ/ · UK /ˈwɒntɪŋ/
Etymology From Middle English wantyng, wantynge, wantand, equivalent to want + -ing.
1
That wants or desires.
2
Absent or lacking.
- Already Cæſar Has ravaged more than half the Globe, and ſees Mankind grown thin by his deſtructive Sword: Should he go further, Numbers would be wanting To form new Battels, and ſupport his Crimes.1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 1:
- […] but where other powers of entertainment are wanting, the true philosopher will derive benefit from such as are given.1813, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Modern Library Edition, published 1995, page 171:
1 more example
- Discal black dot small or wanting. Transverse posterior line reduced to two dotlets or altogether wanting.1902, Proceedings: Entomological papers, volumes 25-26, United States National Museum, page 201:
3
Deficient.
- Kate felt privileged to have been permitted to speak through it and she was glad that, as before, she had been judged and not found wanting1993, Dana Stabenow, Dead in the Water, →ISBN, page 151:
- Derived terms
- find wanting, wantingly