[f. YEARN v.1 + -ING1.]
1. The action of YEARN v.1; intense longing or desire after, for, † of, to, or to do something; an instance of this.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., v. 45. Mid ðære ʓierninge [v.r. ʓirninge] ðara smeaunga Godes wisdomes anes.
a. 1050. Liber Scintill., xi. (1889), 59. Se na wiðsæcð middanearde þam eorðlicre æhte ʓegladað ʓyrnincg [L. ambitio].
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 114. His þurst nis nout buten ȝirnunge of ure soule hele. Ibid., 130. Þuruh ȝirnunge of heorte to heouenliche þinges.
13[?]. Cursor M., 10513 (Gött.). Þi ȝerning gode and þi prayere, Es comyn now to goddes ere.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 1127–8. Outher yhernyng of þe flesshe of man, Or yhernyng of eghe,… Or pride of lyfe.
1357. Lay Folks Catech. (T.), 507. A urangwise wilnyng Or yernyng to hafe any kyns gode that us augh noght.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, III. 742. Thai, to fullfill hys ȝarnyng, Become his men euirilkane.
a. 1395. Hylton, Scala Perf. (W. de W., 1494), II. xxi. The yernyng of thyn herte to Jhesu.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 536/2. Ȝarnynge, or ȝernynge, or desyrynge, desiderium, optacio, exoptacio.
a. 1450. Ratis Raving, 975. It makis the knawleginge, And ledis the at thi ȝarnynge Fra place to place, quhar þow wald be.
1821. Byron, Cain, III. i. Such melancholy yearnings o’er the past.
1836. Kingsley, in Life & Lett. (1878), I. 33. Her restless yearnings after future things.
1840. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Ser. I. Mr. Peters’s Story. A strong disposition to doze, And a yearning to seek ‘horizontal repose.’
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xliii. Her doubts and fears between the two; the yearning of her innocent breast to both.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., cxvi. Less yearning for the friendship fled.
1872. Liddon, Elem. Relig., i. 24. That Being to whom the highest yearnings of his inmost self constantly point.
b. transf. (contextually) An object of intense desire.
c. 1430. Hymns Virgin (1867), 23. Take to þee al myn entente Þat þou be to me myn ȝerninge.
1869. Mozley, Univ. Serm., ii. (1876), 40. The great yearning of prophecy was the total destruction of idolatry.
† 2. The baying of hounds. Also transf. Obs.
1531. Elyot, Gov., I. xviii. if they wold use but a fewe nombre of houndes, onely to harborowe, or rouse, the game, and by their yorning to gyue knowlege whiche way it fleeth.
1576. Turberv., Venerie, lxv. 181. When they beginne to baye, (whiche in the earth is called Yearnyng).
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 53. Thee skrich rings mounting, increast is the horror of armoure, From sleepe I broad waked,… And to the shril yerning with tentiue greedines harckned.
3. The state of being moved with compassion.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, II. xi. 247. Amongst all other vices, there is none I hate moore, than crueltie…. But it is with such an yearning [F. mollesse] and faint-hartednes, that if I see but a chickins necke pulld off,… I cannot choose but grieve.
c. 1625. Bp. Hall, St. Paul’s Combat, I. Wks. 1634, II. 441. Of pitty and yearning of bowels.
1647. S. M[oore] (title), The Yernings of Christs bowels towards his languishing Friends.
1690. Norris, Beatitudes (1694), 134. All that inward Feeling and Yerning of the Heart and Soul at a pitiful Object.
4. attrib. † yearning-meat, the meat for which one yearns.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3684. ‘Fader,’ he said, ‘sitt vp and ete, I ha broght þi ȝerning mete.’
