yearn

verb

1. (also, figuratively, intransitive)To have a strong desire for something or to do something; to long for or to do something.

   “All I yearn for is a simple life.”

   “I muſt do that my heart-ſtrings yern to do: but my word's paſt.”

   “You are now before my eyes, my eyes that are ready to flow with tenderness, but cannot give relief to my gushing heart, that dictates what I am now saying, and yearns to tell you all its achings.”

   “By morning's cheerful glow, but oftener still by evening's gentle light, the child, with a respect for the short and happy intercourse of these two sisters which forbade her to approach and say a thankful word, although she yearned to do so, followed them at a distance in their walks and rambles, […]”

   “What his soul yearned after was control of his father's newly purchased sailing-ship.”

2. (also, figuratively, intransitive, specifically)To have a strong desire for something or to do something; to long for or to do something.

   “If I don’t go now, thought Charlotte, I shall have lost a chance which I shall eternally regret and yearn after.”

   “Having shaken the dust of the ugly new South Africa from his feet, is he yearning for the South Africa of the old days, when Eden was still possible?”

3. (intransitive)Of music, words, etc.: to express strong desire or longing.

   “The music, yearning like a God in pain, / She scarcely heard: […]”

4. (dated, intransitive)To have strong feelings of affection, love, sympathy, etc., toward someone.

   “And Joſeph made haſte: for his bowels did yerne upon his brother: and he ſought where to weepe, and hee entred into his chamber, & wept there.”

   “I have left your mother in the next room. Her heart yearns towards you.”

   “Oh, it was a pretty sight to see this modest young creature, little more than a child herself, anticipating maternity, but blushing every now and then, and looking askant at her lord and master. How his very bowels yearned over her!”

   “[…] Mr. Ratcliffe’s heart yearned toward the charming girl quite with the sensations of a father, or even of an elder brother.”

   “But supper had cheered Tant' Sannie, who found it impossible longer to maintain that decorous silence, and whose heart yearned over the youth.”

5. (intransitive, obsolete)To be distressed or pained; to grieve; to mourn.

   “My father’s and my uncle Toby’s hearts yearn’d with ſympathy for the poor fellow’s diſtreſs,—[…]”

6. (transitive)Often followed by out: to perform (music) which conveys or say (words) which express strong desire or longing.
7. (archaic, poetic, transitive)To have a strong desire or longing (for something or to do something).
8. (obsolete, transitive)To cause (someone) to have strong feelings of affection, love, sympathy, etc.; also, to grieve or pain (someone).

   “Well, ſhe laments Sir for it, that it would yern your heart to see it: […]”

   “It yernes me not, if men my Garments weare; / Nor care I who doth feed vpon my coſt: / Such outward things dwell not in my deſires. / But if it be a ſinne to couet Honor, / I am the moſt offending Soule aliue.”

   “When the badger finds that the terriers yearn him in his burrow, he will stop the hole between him and the terriers; […]”

   “Wants to sneeze and cannot do it! / Now it yearns me, thrills me, stings me, / Now with rapturous torment wrings me, / Now says “Sneeze, you fool; get through it.””

9. (Northern-England, Scotland, intransitive)Of milk: to curdle, especially in the cheesemaking process.
10. (Northern-England, Scotland, intransitive)Of cheese: to be made from curdled milk.
11. (Northern-England, Scotland, transitive)To curdle (milk), especially in the cheesemaking process.
12. (Northern-England, Scotland, transitive)To make (cheese) from curdled milk.

    “Also his Honour the Duke will accept ane of our Dunlop cheeses, and it sall be my faut if a better was ever yearned in Lowden.”

noun

1. A strong desire or longing; a yearning, a yen.

   “Gibbs now said he wasn't going to pull any punches with Gary when he knew how jealous a man could get, so he also wanted to tell him that Phil Hansen was reputed to have a yearn for attractive ladies.”

   “"After he had made a record date with us in 1935, I always had a yearn for Ben," he said years later.”

   “"My guess, however, is that it has because there are many people who have a yearn for sex outside their relationship but wouldn't have the slightest idea about how to do it or do it safely," Prof Schwartz added.”