In 4 -ere, 5 -are, -our. [f. CRAVE v. + -ER.]
† 1. An appellant, an accuser. Obs.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter lxxi. 4. And meke þe cravere so he salle [L. humiliabit calumniatorem].
2. One who asks or begs (favors, gifts, etc.); an importunate or urgent asker; a beggar.
1406. Hoccleve, La Male Regle, 429. As the shamelees crauour wole, it gooth.
c. 1532. Dewes, Introd. Fr., in Palsgr., 917. Craver, truand.
1548. Udall, Erasm. Par., Pref. 18 b. Being cravers not of the least importune sort.
1608. Shaks., Per., II. i. 92. But crave? Then I’ll turn craver too, and so I shall ’scape whipping.
c. 1660. Jovial Crew, in Bagford Ball., I. 196. A Craver my Father, a Maunder my Mother.
1838. Tait’s Mag., V. 502/1. Cœur de Lion was … a levier of taxes, a craver of benevolence, a grinder of the people’s bones to make his bread.
3. One who longs or earnestly desires.
1846. Trench, Mirac., Introd. 74. The lovers of, and cravers after, the marvellous.
1883. American, VII. 154/1. Cravers for emotional excitement can no longer titillate their nerves with the excitements of the games of the circus.
† b. Applied app. to the appetite. Obs.
1591. Florio, 2nd Fruites, 49. R. Master, dinner is readie, shall it be set upon the board? S. I pray thee doo so…. N. My crauers, as the scots man says, serues me well.
