Wishlist

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A list of desired items or goals that individuals hope to acquire or achieve
2. an inventory compiled for future purchasing intentions or aspirations
3. a record of preferred choices that reflects personal wants and dreams

Etymology: "Wishlist" is a plain compound: "wish" joined to "list," so it names a list of things one wishes for. Both parts are old English words, and the combination is transparent, so the term needs little unpacking. "Wish" comes from Old English "wyscan," while "list" traces back to a word meaning a roll or catalogue of names, which is how the English word has long been used. The interest lies in how the compound moved from a general idea to a commercial and personal one. Its meaning now sits in everyday speech about gifts, shopping and daydreams, where a person keeps a record of goods they would like to own or experiences they hope to have. The word is written as one closed compound, and that spelling reflects how thoroughly the two parts have fused into a single unit.

Synonyms: list, catalog, inventory, registry