yearn

  • 1yearn — yearn·er; yearn·ful; yearn·ing·ly; yearn; …

    English syllables

  • 2Yearn — Yearn, v. i. [OE. yernen, [yogh]ernen, [yogh]eornen, AS. geornian, gyrnan, fr. georn desirous, eager; akin to OS. gern desirous, girnean, gernean, to desire, D. gaarne gladly, willingly, G. gern, OHG. gerno, adv., gern, a., G. gier greed, OHG.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3Yearn — (y[ e]rn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Yearned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Yearning}.] [Also earn, ern; probably a corruption of OE. ermen to grieve, AS. ierman, yrman, or geierman, geyrman, fr. earm wretched, poor; akin to D. & G. arm, Icel. armr, Goth. arms.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4Yearn — Yearn, v. i. To be pained or distressed; to grieve; to mourn. [Obs.] Falstaff he is dead, and we must yearn therefore. Shak. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 5yearn — [jə:n US jə:rn] v [: Old English; Origin: giernan] [i]literary to have a strong desire for something, especially something that is difficult or impossible to get = ↑long yearn for ▪ Hannah yearned for a child. yearn to be/do sth ▪ Phil had… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 6Yearn — Yearn, v. i. & t. [See {Yearnings}.] To curdle, as milk. [Scot.] [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 7yearn — [ jɜrn ] verb transitive MAINLY LITERARY to want something a lot, especially something that you know you may not be able to have: He yearned for her love. They were yearning to have a baby …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 8yearn — (v.) O.E. geornan (Mercian), giernan (W.Saxon), giorna (Northumbrian), from P.Gmc. *gernijanan (Cf. Goth. gairnjan to desire, Ger. begehren to desire ), from *gernaz (Cf. O.H.G. gern, O.N. gjarn desirous, O.E. georn …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 9yearn — *long, pine, hanker, hunger, thirst Analogous words: crave, *desire, wish, want, covet: aspire, pant, *aim …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 10yearn — [v] desire strongly ache, be desirous of, be eager for, be passionate, chafe, covet, crave, dream, hanker, have a crush on*, have a yen for, hunger, itch, languish, long, lust, pine, set one’s heart on*, thirst, want, wish for; concept 20 Ant.… …

    New thesaurus