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.
Use the formal, somewhat old-fashioned construction “desirous of” for wanting or wishing for something.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| a formal or old-fashioned sentence expresses wanting something | desirous of + noun / -ing | Use the documented “of” pattern when that register is intentional. |
| plain contemporary prose is preferred | want / would like / hope, depending on meaning | A simpler alternative will often be clearer. |
| the sentence does not need a complement | desirous | The adjective may stand alone where context supplies the object of desire. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Is the formal or somewhat old-fashioned register intentional?
If yes: Use “desirous of …” with the thing wanted.
If no: Prefer a plainer verb such as “want” or “would like” when the formal register adds no value.
Caveat: The reviewed entry characterizes “desirous of” as formal and somewhat old-fashioned. Register, not grammatical correctness alone, should guide the choice.
Examples
The committee was desirous of a prompt decision.
The “of” complement names what is wanted in a deliberately formal register.
Applicants desirous of joining should respond by Friday.
The formal adjective takes an “of” complement before the -ing form.
Applicants who want to join should respond by Friday.
A plain-language rewrite may be more natural when the elevated register is unnecessary.
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.
- DESIROUS — Cambridge English Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press & Assessment · Cambridge dictionary evidence for desirous of as a documented formal construction.