Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Yearn?

\Yearn\ (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 y- in English is perhaps due to the AS. ge (see {Y-}).] To pain; to grieve; to vex. [Obs.] ``She laments, sir, for it, that it would yearn your heart to see it.'' --Shak. It yearns me not if men my garments wear. --Shak.
\Yearn\, v. i. To be pained or distressed; to grieve; to mourn. [Obs.] ``Falstaff he is dead, and we must yearn therefore.'' --Shak.
\Yearn\, v. i. & t. [See {Yearnings}.] To curdle, as milk. [Scot.]
\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. gir[=i] greed, ger desirous, ger[=o]n to desire, G. begehren, Icel. girna to desire, gjarn eager, Goth. fa['i]huga['i]rns covetous, ga['i]rnjan to desire, and perhaps to Gr. chai`rein to rejoice, be glad, Skr. hary to desire, to like. [root]33.] To be filled with longing desire; to be harassed or rendered uneasy with longing, or feeling the want of a thing; to strain with emotions of affection or tenderness; to long; to be eager. Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother; and he sought where to weep. --Gen. xliii. 30. Your mother's heart yearns towards you. --Addison.