Re: An english grammar question

In article <1152591297.089764.255310@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Josh Reyer <reyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
John J. Chew III wrote:
In article <C0D81E1F.1285D%notsean@xxxxxxx>, Sean <notsean@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Maybe it does here too, but I use it. It's part of my shtick. I guess I've
had one too many people respond to the "You want to.." construction with
"No, I don't." One wants to avoid one's words being misconstrued.
One ought not to use "wants" where one means "desires", lest one's words
be misconstrued as indicating failure or lack rather than preference or
will.
While "want + noun" may be somewhat ambiguous, "want + infinitive verb"
has but one meaning, and that meaning is never "failure or lack".

What is it with USENET and neologisms? According to the OED, the shift
in meaning of "to want to" from "to lack" to "to desire" took place only
about three hundred years ago, and certainly there's plenty worth
reading that is older than that. From the OED:

1553 Eden Treat. Newe Ind. Ded. (Arb.) 6 One whose good will hath not
wanted to gratifie your grace with a better thing if mine abilitie
were greater.
1576 Common Conditions 216 (Brooke) Like beggers wee liue and want to
pay rent.
1697 Dryden AEneis xii. 937 Then, shallI see Laurentum in a flame,
Which only wanted to compleat my shame.

John
--
John Chew (poslfit on MD) * jjchew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx * http://www.poslfit.com
.

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