would that

would that
or[I would that] or[would God] or[would heaven] {literary} I wish that. - Used at the beginning of a sentence expressing a wish; followed by a verb in the subjunctive; found mostly in poetry and older literature. * /Would that I could only drop everything and join you./ * /Would that my mother were alive to see me married./ Syn.: IF ONLY.

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • would that — literary phrase used for saying that you wish that something were true, especially when you know that it is impossible Would that all questions were so easy to answer! Thesaurus: modal verbshyponym ways of saying you are sorry or regret… …   Useful english dictionary

  • would that — or[I would that] or[would God] or[would heaven] {literary} I wish that. Used at the beginning of a sentence expressing a wish; followed by a verb in the subjunctive; found mostly in poetry and older literature. * /Would that I could only drop… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • would\ that — • (I) would that • would God • would heaven literary I wish that. Used at the beginning of a sentence expressing a wish; followed by a verb in the subjunctive; found mostly in poetry and older literature. Would that I could only drop everything… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • would that — literary used for saying that you wish that something were true, especially when you know that it is impossible Would that all questions were so easy to answer! …   English dictionary

  • would that — I wish that …   English contemporary dictionary

  • would that he were still living — I wish that he were still alive …   English contemporary dictionary

  • I\ would\ that — • (I) would that • would God • would heaven literary I wish that. Used at the beginning of a sentence expressing a wish; followed by a verb in the subjunctive; found mostly in poetry and older literature. Would that I could only drop everything… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • would — [ wud ] modal verb *** Would is usually followed by an infinitive without to : A picnic would be nice. Sometimes it is used without a following infinitive: They didn t do as much as they said they would. In conversation and informal writing,… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • would — W1S1 [wud] modal v negative short form wouldn t ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(past intentions/expectations)¦ 2¦(imagined situations)¦ 3¦(past habits)¦ 4¦(requesting)¦ 5¦(offering/inviting)¦ 6¦(what somebody wants)¦ 7¦(past purpose)¦ 8 would not …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • would — [wood] v.aux. [ME wolde < OE, pt. of willan, to wish, WILL1] 1. pt. of WILL2 [she said she would be finished before six, in those days we would talk for hours on end] 2. used to express a supposition or condition [he would write if he knew you …   English World dictionary

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