I. ˈyərn, ˈyə̄n, ˈyəin verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English yernen, from Old English giernan, geornan; akin to Old English georn desirous, eager, Old High German gern eager, willing, gerōn to desire, Old Norse gjarn eager, willing, girna to desire, Gothic -gairns desirous, gairnei wish, Latin horiri, hortari to urge, incite, encourage, cheer, Greek chairein to rejoice, enjoy, Sanskrit haryati he likes, yearns for
intransitive verb
1. : to experience a strong desire or craving
her heart yearned for one of the beautifully designed timepieces — David Walden
young men who yearned to succeed at letters — John Mason Brown
yearned after the social and economic setup of the 19th century — R.G.Woolbert
2. : to feel tenderness, compassion, or love : become moved or drawn emotionally
yearned over her with a father's tenderness and a mother's infinite self-giving
3. : to express longing by tone of voice or by that of a musical instrument
his talk yearned after something elusive
the organ yearned in the half light
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to move to pity, mourning, or compassion : grieve
2. : to voice in a longing manner : speak or utter so as to express craving or desire
yearned out the tender, vivid lyric of an ageless desire
Synonyms: see long
II. noun
( -s )
: an eager desire : longing , yearning
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English yernen, probably from Old English iernan to run, flow, coagulate — more at run
chiefly Scotland : coagulate , curdle