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yearn (v.)

Old English giernan (West Saxon), geornan (Mercian), giorna (Northumbrian) "to strive, be eager, desire, seek for, beg, demand," from Proto-Germanic *gernjan (source also of Gothic gairnjan "to desire," German begehren "to desire;" Old High German gern, Old Norse gjarn "desirous," Old English georn "eager, desirous," German gern "gladly, willingly"), from PIE root *gher- (2) "to like, want." Related: Yearned; yearning.

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Definitions of yearn from WordNet

yearn (v.)
desire strongly or persistently;
Synonyms: hanker / long
yearn (v.)
have a desire for something or someone who is not present;
Synonyms: ache / yen / pine / languish
yearn (v.)
have affection for; feel tenderness for;
From wordnet.princeton.edu