yearn

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To have a strong desire for something or to do something

   To have a strong desire for something or to do something; to long for or to do something.

   • All I yearn for is a simple life.
   • I muſt do that my heart-ſtrings yern to do: but my word's paſt.
   • You are now before my eyes, my eyes that are ready to flow with tenderness, but cannot give relief to my gushing heart, that dictates what I am now saying, and yearns to tell you all its achings.
2. 2

   Of music, words, etc.

   Of music, words, etc.: to express strong desire or longing.

   • The music, yearning like a God in pain, / She scarcely heard: […]
3. 3

   To have strong feelings of affection, love, sympathy, etc., toward someone.

   • And Joſeph made haſte: for his bowels did yerne upon his brother: and he ſought where to weepe, and hee entred into his chamber, & wept there.
   • I have left your mother in the next room. Her heart yearns towards you.
   • Oh, it was a pretty sight to see this modest young creature, little more than a child herself, anticipating maternity, but blushing every now and then, and looking askant at her lord and master. How his very bowels yearned over her!
4. ›+ 9 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To be distressed or pained

      To be distressed or pained; to grieve; to mourn.

      • My father’s and my uncle Toby’s hearts yearn’d with ſympathy for the poor fellow’s diſtreſs,—[…]
   2. 5

      Often followed by out

      Often followed by out: to perform (music) which conveys or say (words) which express strong desire or longing.

   3. 6

      To have a strong desire or longing (for something or to do something).

   4. 7

      To cause (someone) to have strong feelings of affection, love, sympathy, etc.

      To cause (someone) to have strong feelings of affection, love, sympathy, etc.; also, to grieve or pain (someone).

      • Well, ſhe laments Sir for it, that it would yern your heart to see it: […]
      • It yernes me not, if men my Garments weare; / Nor care I who doth feed vpon my coſt: / Such outward things dwell not in my deſires. / But if it be a ſinne to couet Honor, / I am the moſt offending Soule aliue.
      • When the badger finds that the terriers yearn him in his burrow, he will stop the hole between him and the terriers; […]
   5. 8

      A strong desire or longing

      A strong desire or longing; a yearning, a yen.

      • Gibbs now said he wasn't going to pull any punches with Gary when he knew how jealous a man could get, so he also wanted to tell him that Phil Hansen was reputed to have a yearn for attractive ladies.
      • "After he had made a record date with us in 1935, I always had a yearn for Ben," he said years later.
   6. 9

      Of milk

      Of milk: to curdle, especially in the cheesemaking process.

   7. 10

      Of cheese

      Of cheese: to be made from curdled milk.

   8. 11

      To curdle (milk), especially in the cheesemaking process.

   9. 12

      To make (cheese) from curdled milk.

      • Also his Honour the Duke will accept ane of our Dunlop cheeses, and it sall be my faut if a better was ever yearned in Lowden.

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