Yearning
/ˈjɜːrnɪŋ/noun
A strong, often painful desire or longing for something.
Did you know?The word is related to Old English georn, meaning “eager” or “desirous,” and its deeper roots connect to a Proto-Germanic idea of ardent wanting rather than calm preference.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰer-
“to desire, like, or yearn for”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*gernô / *gernjaną
“eager, desirous; to desire”
Old English
English
geornian
“to desire eagerly, long for”
Middle English
English
yernen
“to long for, desire”
Modern English
English
yearn
“to feel a deep longing or desire”