Where does “yearner” come from?
yearner (English) comes from English yearn, from Middle English yernen, from Old English ġeornan, from Proto-West Germanic girnijan, from Proto-Germanic girnijaną, from Proto-Germanic gernaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- — to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines.
yearner (English): someone who yearns
Ancestry of “yearner”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | yearn | To long, have a strong desire; To long for... |
| 2 | Middle English | yernen | — |
| 3 | Old English | ġeornan | — |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | girnijan | to be eager for, to desire |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | girnijaną | to want, desire |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | gernaz | eager, willing |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰer- | to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines |