The word "wishes" refers to desires or hopes for something to happen. It can also express a sentiment when someone wants something good for another person, often used in formal greetings such as "best wishes." In a broader sense, it encompasses longing for something that is not currently attainable.
The word "wish" comes from the Old English "wiscian," which means "to wish or desire." It has roots in Proto-Germanic "*wiskōną," related to wanting or expecting something, and has analogous forms in several Germanic languages.