desideratum

The definition of a desideratum is a wish or desire.

(noun)

An example of a desideratum is a woman's want to be a mother.

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See desideratum in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. desiderata

something needed and wanted

Origin: L, neut. of desideratus: see desiderate

See desideratum in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. de·sid·er·a·ta (-tə)
Something considered necessary or highly desirable: “The point is not that the artist has ‘penetrated the character’ of his sitter, that commonplace desideratum of portraiture” (Robert Hughes).

Origin:

Origin: Latin dēsīderātum

Origin: , from

Origin: neuter past participle of dēsīderāre, to desire; see desire

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