yearn

English

/jɜːn/, /jɝn/

verb
Definitions
  • (intransitive) To long, have a strong desire (for something).
  • (intransitive) To long for something in the past with melancholy, nostalgically.
  • (intransitive) To have strong feelings of love, sympathy, affection, etc. (toward someone).
  • (intransitive) To be pained or distressed; to grieve; to mourn.
  • (transitive) To pain; to grieve; to vex.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English yernen inherited from Old English giernan inherited from *girnijan inherited from Proto-Germanic *girnijaną.

Origin

Proto-Germanic

*girnijaną

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms