wisher Now rare.
(ˈwɪʃə(r))
[f. wish v. + -er1.]
One who wishes.
† wishers and woulders: see woulder.
| 15.. Parl. Byrdes 91 in Hazl. E.P.P. III. 171 Wysshers want wyll. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia iii. (1922) 15 Many times he wished himself the back of an Asse,..(an unfortunate wisher, for if he had as well wished the head, it had bene graunted him). 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. iv. xv. 37 Wishers were euer Fooles. 1670 Eachard Cont. Clergy To Rdr., I am..only an honest and hearty wisher, that the best of our clergy might forever continue as they are. 1760 Sterne Tr. Shandy III. i, The safest way..to take off the force of the wish, is..to..wish the wisher something in return. 1846 Denham Prov. (Percy Soc.) 31 A March wisher is never a good fisher. 1905 Flor. Maybrick My Fifteen Lost Yrs. 133 If a prisoner has any complaint to make or wishes to seek advice, she asks to have her name put down to see the governor. She is then termed a ‘wisher’ and is ‘seen’ by him in his office in the presence of the chief matron. |
b. qualified by evil, ill, well (see ill-wisher, well-wisher).
| 1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. Boccalini's Advts. fr. Parnass. ii. lxxxviii. (1674) 241 To take an evil wishers life away. 1746 H. Walpole Let. to Mann 1 Aug., When the Peers were going to vote Lord Foley withdrew as too well a wisher. |