/ kreɪv; NAmE / verb
1.
to have a very strong desire for sth
SYN long for :
[ vn ]
She has always craved excitement.
[also v , v to inf ]
2.
[ vn ] ( BrE , old use ) to ask for sth seriously :
I must crave your pardon.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English crafian (in the sense demand, claim as a right ), of Germanic origin; related to Swedish kräva , Danish kræve demand. The current sense dates from late Middle English .