yearn

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yearn / yərn/ • v. [intr.] have an intense feeling of loss or lack and longing for something: they yearned to go home ∎ archaic be filled with compassion or warm feeling: no fellow spirit yearned toward her.DERIVATIVES: yearn·ing n.yearn·ing·ly adv.ORIGIN: Old English giernan, from a Germanic base meaning ‘eager.’

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