Where does “yearn” come from?
Yearn comes from English yearn, from Old English giernan, from Proto-Germanic gernaz meaning "to desire," from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- meaning "to grasp or desire."
yearn (English): To long, have a strong desire; To long for...
Definitions
- To long, have a strong desire; To long for...
Ancestry of “yearn”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | yernen | to yearn; to yearn for |
| 2 | Old English | ġeornan | to desire, beg, yearn |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | girnijan | to be eager for, to desire |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | girnijaną | to want, desire |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | gernaz | eager, willing |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰer- | to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines |