[f. YEARN v.1 + -ING2.]
1. That yearns; characterized by longing desire or compassion.
1627. Drayton, Agincourt, cccx. These yearning cryes, that from the Caridge came.
1652. Benlowes, Theoph., IV. lxxiii. This Devota breaths out yerning Cries.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Two Oxf. Schol., Wks. 1730, I. 10. Some tenderhearted virgin … who with yearning bowels will offer me her best assistance.
1819. Keats, Fall of Hyperion, I. 39. Appetite More yearning than on Earth I ever felt.
1859. Geo. Eliot, Adam Bede, xlv. The two pale faces…: one with a wild hard despair in it, the other full of sad, yearning love.
1873. E. E. Hale, In His Name, viii. As if the Holy Spirit had sent the immediate answer to his yearning prayer.
1891. W. Clark Russell, Marriage at Sea, iv. A full-rigged ship … with yearning canvas and ocean-worn sides.
transf. 1865. Swinburne, Poems & Ball., Anactoria, 228. By the yearning in my veins I know The yearning sound of waters.
† b. Yearning mood: optative mood. Obs.
1522. Vaus, Rudim. Gram., Bb ij (Jam.). Optatiuo modo, yarnand mode.
† 2. Of hounds: see YEARN v.1 4. Obs.
1706. J. Philips, Cerealia 190. As the tall stag … quits his lair, And flies the yearning pack which close pursue.
Hence Yearningly adv.
1840. New Monthly Mag., LIX. 402. She felt yearningly enough for both.
1861. H. Macmillan, Footn. Page Nat., 197. The geranium growing in the cottage window yearningly stretches out its tender leaves … to the smiling sunshine.
1894. Hall Caine, Manxman, V. iii. He looked at it lovingly, fondly, yearningly.
