Obs. or dial. f. EARN v.1
a. 1175. Cott. Hom., 221. Þat he eorðlic man sceolde ȝeðeon, and ȝearnian mid admodnisse þet wuniunge on hefen rice.
c. 1530. Crt. Love, 367. Thy-self art never like to yern … her mercy.
1557. Tusser, 100 Points Husb., xxxvi. Beware they threshe clene, though the lesser they yarne.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. i. 40. Put away proud looke, and vsage sterne, The which shal nought to you but foule dishonor yearne.
c. 1600[?]. Distr. Emperor, II. i., in Bullen, Old Pl. (1884), III. 189. Those worthye deeds Whereby y’ave yearn’d all wellcome.
1626. Essex Archdeaconries, Depos. Bk., 27 June, lf. 77 (MS.). He sayd that he was ever yearning of money.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 359/2. She … told me, I must look out and yearn my own living.
