would-be

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
would-be
    adj 1: unfulfilled or frustrated in realizing an ambition [syn:
           {manque}, {would-be(a)}]
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Would-be \Would"-be`\, a.
   Desiring or professing to be; vainly pretending to be; as, a
   would-be poet.
   [1913 Webster]
antiflux / dictionary / would-be
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