Hankering
/ˈhæŋ.kər.ɪŋ/noun
A strong, persistent desire for something.
Did you know?Unlike words such as “fascinate” or “glamour,” hankering has no documented occult origin; its earliest history is genuinely uncertain, possibly involving Middle Dutch expressions for intense longing.
Etymological Timeline
16th–17th Century
English
hanker
“To have a persistent desire or longing; the earliest English history is obscure.”
17th Century
English
hankering
“A persistent or insistent longing, formed from hanker with the -ing suffix.”
Possible source
Middle Dutch
hankeren
“A proposed source meaning “to long for” or “to yearn”; the connection is plausible but not certain.”
Modern English
English
hankering
“A strong desire, especially for a particular food, activity, or experience.”