English UsageGrammar guide

Desirous Of: Standard Pattern

Desirous Of: Standard Pattern records the directly documented construction and keeps guidance bounded to the evidenced pattern rather than inventing a broader prohibition.

Quick answer

Use the formal, somewhat old-fashioned construction “desirous of” for wanting or wishing for something.

Key details

Confusion Familyusage-construction
Rule Familyadjective complement
Termsdesirous of

Further guidance

Construction

Use the formal, somewhat old-fashioned construction “desirous of” for wanting or wishing for something.

Style Boundary

The guide is limited to the documented formal construction and does not imply that “desirous” is the natural choice in ordinary modern prose.

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. DESIROUS — Cambridge English Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press & Assessment · Cambridge dictionary evidence for desirous of as a documented formal construction.

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Addicted To: Standard Pattern

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Adept At: Standard Pattern

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Adjacent To: Standard Pattern

Adjacent To: Standard Pattern records the directly documented construction and keeps guidance bounded to the evidenced complement pattern rather than inventing a broader prohibition.

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