cupio vs. desidero

I think you'll see the difference in the definitions you posted.

Desidero implies that the thing desired is needed for a sense of completeness
or fulfillment.

Cupio implies more of a passion to possess.

thank you.

You're welcome.

george,
can you help me understand 3rd declension nouns? Is there a logical reason why these nouns could not have been first or second declension? (after changing their endings of course)
I was doing ok, and Latin made some sense. I have been introduced to first and second declension nouns, 1-4 conjugation verbs, and so far adjective endings match the nouns (most of the time). However, 3rd declension just seems to be hard for no other reason than to complicate the whole thing. [I really think that if Latin only had 2 declensions and 2 conjugations the language would be alive and well today.]

Good question, but I don't have a good answer. I believe the Latin
declensions were themselves descended from the languages that gave rise to Latin.

In a sense, Latin is alive and well today with two declensions in the form of
Romance languages like Italian and Spanish.

That makes sense. I had not thought of other languages giving rise to Latin, but if i remember correctly now, there were provinces (or states) of Italy around Latium with their own language.
I have learned Latin is very much alive in Spanish, French, and so on, although i am not familiar with these languages myself. Is it the first and second declensions that are found in the romance languages?

Well saying there are first and second declensions there was overstating the
case on my part. But some of these languages, many nouns have endings
like -a and -o that recall their Latin roots.

I understand. That is what i thought you meant.