▪ I. yearning, vbl. n.1
(ˈjɜːnɪŋ)
[f. yearn v.1 + -ing1.]
1. The action of yearn v.1; intense longing or desire after, for, † of, to, or to do something; an instance of this.
| c 897 ælfred Gregory's Past. C. v. 45 Mid ðære ᵹierninge [v.r. ᵹirninge] ðara smeaunga Godes wisdomes anes. a 1050 Liber Scintill. xi. (1889) 59 Se na wiðsæcð middanearde þam eorðlicre æhte ᵹegladað ᵹyrnincg [L. ambitio]. a 1225 Ancr. R. 114 His þurst nis nout buten ȝirnunge of ure soule hele. Ibid. 130 Þuruh ȝirnunge of heorte to heouenliche þinges. 13.. Cursor M. 10513 (Gött.) Þi ȝerning gode and þi prayere, Es comyn now to goddes ere. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 1127–8 Outher yhernyng of þe flesshe of man, Or yhernyng of eghe,..Or pride of lyfe. 1357 Lay Folks Catech. (T.) 507 A urangwise wilnyng Or yernyng to hafe any kyns gode that us augh noght. 1375 Barbour Bruce iii. 742 Thai, to fullfill hys ȝarnyng, Become his men euirilkane. a 1395 Hylton Scala Perf. (W. de W. 1494) ii. xxi, The yernyng of thyn herte to Jhesu. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 536/2 Ȝarnynge, or ȝernynge, or desyrynge, desiderium, optacio, exoptacio. a 1450 Ratis Raving 975 It makis the knawleginge, And ledis the at thi ȝarnynge Fra place to place, quhar þow wald be. 1821 Byron Cain iii. i, Such melancholy yearnings o'er the past. 1836 Kingsley in Life & Lett. (1878) I. 33 Her restless yearnings after future things. 1840 Barham Ingol. Leg. Ser. i. Mr. Peters's Story, A strong disposition to doze, And a yearning to seek ‘horizontal repose’. 1848 Dickens Dombey xliii, Her doubts and fears between the two; the yearning of her innocent breast to both. 1850 Tennyson In Mem. cxvi, Less yearning for the friendship fled. 1872 Liddon Elem. Relig. i. 24 That Being to Whom the highest yearnings of his inmost self constantly point. |
b. transf. (contextually) An object of intense desire.
| c 1430 Hymns Virgin (1867) 23 Take to þee al myn entente Þat þou be to me myn ȝerninge. 1869 Mozley Univ. Serm. ii. (1876) 40 The great yearning of prophecy was the total destruction of idolatry. |
† 2. The baying of hounds. Also transf. Obs.
| 1531 Elyot Gov. i. xviii, If they wold use but a fewe nombre of houndes, onely to harborowe, or rouse, the game, and by their yorning to gyue knowlege whiche way it fleeth. 1576 Turberv. Venerie lxv. 181 When they beginne to baye, (whiche in the earth is called Yearnyng). 1582 Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 53 Thee skrich rings mounting, increast is the horror of armoure, From sleepe I broad waked,..And to the shril yerning with tentiue greedines harckned. |
3. The state of being moved with compassion.
| 1603 Florio Montaigne ii. xi. 247 Amongst all other vices, there is none I hate moore, than crueltie... But it is with such an yearning [F. mollesse] and faint-hartednes, that if I see but a chickins necke pulld off,..I cannot choose but grieve. c 1625 Bp. Hall St. Paul's Combat i. Wks. 1634 II. 441 Of pitty and yearning of bowels. 1647 S. M[oore] (title) The Yernings of Christs bowels towards his languishing Friends. 1690 Norris Beatitudes (1694) 134 All that inward Feeling and Yerning of the Heart and Soul at a pitiful Object. |
4. attrib. † yearning-meat, the meat for which one yearns.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 3684 ‘Fader’, he said, ‘sitt vp and ete, I ha broght þi ȝerning mete.’ |
▪ II. yearning, vbl. n.2 Sc. and north. dial.
(ˈjɜːnɪŋ)
[f. yearn v.2 + -ing1.]
Rennet. Also attrib.
| 1371–3 Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 577 Pro yernyng et Chesecloutes emp. pro vaccaria. 1581–2 Inv. in Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 172 Yerens [? yernens], oitemeell, and onions 13s. 4d. 1753 Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. App., Earning, or Yearning, a name used in several parts of the kingdom for rennet. 1788 W. Marshall E. Yorksh. Gloss. (E.D.S.), Cheslip-skin, the calf's bag, used in making yerning. c 1820 [see earning vbl. n.3 2]. 1825 Brockett N.C. Gloss. s.v., A plant used in North Tindale to curdle milk for cheese is called yerning grass. 1825 Jamieson s.v., The yirnin is the maw or stomach of the calf. |
▪ III. yearning
obs. var. earning vbl. n.1 (1 b).
| 1581 B. Rich Farew. E j, With her yearnynges to helpe to releue hym. |
▪ IV. yearning, ppl. a.
(ˈjɜːnɪŋ)
[f. yearn v.1 + -ing2.]
1. a. That yearns; characterized by longing desire or compassion.
| 1627 Drayton Agincourt cccx, These yearning cryes, that from the Caridge came. 1652 Benlowes Theoph. iv. lxxiii, This Devota breaths out yerning Cries. a 1704 T. Brown Two Oxf. Schol. Wks. 1730 I. 10 Some tenderhearted virgin..who with yearning bowels will offer me her best assistance. 1819 Keats Fall of Hyperion i. 39 Appetite More yearning than on Earth I ever felt. 1859 Geo. Eliot A. Bede xlv, The two pale faces..: one with a wild hard despair in it, the other full of sad, yearning love. 1873 E. E. Hale In His Name viii, As if the Holy Spirit had sent the immediate answer to his yearning prayer. 1891 W. C. Russell Marriage at Sea iv, A full-rigged ship..with yearning canvas and ocean-worn sides. |
| transf. 1865 Swinburne Poems & Ball., Anactoria 228 By the yearning in my veins I know The yearning sound of waters. |
† b. yearning mood: optative mood. Obs.
| 1522 J. Vaus Rudim. Gram. Bb ij (Jam.), Optatiuo modo, yarnand mode. |
† 2. Of hounds: see yearn v.1 4. Obs.
| 1706 J. Philips Cerealia 190 As the tall stag..quits his lair, And flies the yearning pack which close pursue. |
Hence ˈyearningly adv.; (nonce-wd.) ˈyearningness.
| 1840 New Monthly Mag. LIX. 402 She felt yearningly enough for both. 1861 H. Macmillan Footn. Page Nat. 197 The geranium growing in the cottage window yearningly stretches out its tender leaves..to the smiling sunshine. 1894 Hall Caine Manxman v. iii, He looked at it lovingly, fondly, yearningly. a 1916 H. James Sense of Past (1917) 304 The ideal thing for dramatic interest..would be that there is just one matter in which..he betrays himself, gives himself away..it should..affect her..with but a finer yearningness of interest. |