Yearn

(14), v. i. [imp. & p. p. YEARNED; p. pr. & vb. n. YEARNING.] [A-S. geornian, girnan, from georn, girn, gyrn, desirous, georne, gladly, Goth. gairnjan, to desire, O. Sax. girnean, gernean, gigirnan, Icel. girna, pass. girnaz, Sw. girnas, to desire, long. Cf. EARN.] 1. To be strained; to be pained or distressed; to suffer. [Obs.] Falstaff, he is dead, And we must yearn therefore. Shak. 2. 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. Gen. xliii. 30. Your mother's heart yearns toward you. Addison. Anticlus, unable to control, Spoke loud the language of his yearning soul. Pope.