Middle English Dictionary Entry
yerning(e ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | yerning(e ger. Also (N) yorninge, ȝherning(e, ȝhorning(e & (early) ȝirnunge, geornunge, gearnunge & (error) zernig. |
| Etymology | From yernen v. & OE girning, gierning, gyrning. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Wishing, longing, desire; also, covetousness; love [quot. a1425 HBk.GDei]; ?diligence [quot. c1400]; in ~, in a state of longing; also translating F en esveil [quot. a1425(?a1400)]; in thin ~, in a state of longing for you;
(b) a wish or desire; at min ~, according to my will;
(c) the object of one’s desires;
(d) in combs.: ~ mete, the food one desires; love ~, a loving desire, a spiritual yearning.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)62/23 : His þurst nis bute ȝirnunge of ure sawle heale.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)69/23 : Treowe ancres…þurh ȝirnunge of heorte to heouenliche þinges fleoð uppart toward heouene.
- c1300 Evang.(Dlw 22)102 : Þe soule þat is in me Hauiz ȝerning iesu to þe.
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)92/507 : The fift dedely syn is covatise, that is a urangwise wilnyng Or yernyng to hafe any kyns gode that us augh noght.
- a1400(?c1300) LFMass Bk.(Roy 17.B.17)529 : Þat be þi myght & gouernynge I be euer in ȝernynge [Cmb: in þi gernyng], soueranly þe to pay.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)9.24 : Loued es sinful yernynge Of his saule, and wicke sal haue blissinge.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)9.41 : Yernyng [vrr. Ȝhorninge, Ȝhorning] ofe pouer herd lauerd mine.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)37.9 : Lauerd, bifor þe alle mi yorninge.
- c1400 PLove (Hrl 2254)161/23 : Obedience…makiþ a man for to leden in a dedli bodi an aungelis life, and hit makiþ a man only to coueite aftir þe worshepe of hys lord and for to seken in vche creature with gret ȝernynge þe louynge [vrr. feruentnesse, desiryng; L aviditate] of god.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5951 : Richesse…is for me in gret yernyng [F en grant esueil], Whanne she assentith to my willyng.
- a1425 HBk.GDei (Hnt HM 148)81/7 : Þe ȝhernynge þat God has to þe kyndels slike yernes in þe to like þe in-ne slike wordes.
- c1425 Bible SNT(1) (Cmb Dd.12.39)Deeds 25.23 : Agrippa ande þo men of Beronye wore comen with grete ȝerneynge [L ambitione].
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)118/41 : Þe hegher party of contemplacion es behaldyng and ȝernyng of þe thynges of heven.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)7/4 : Fyue þingis letten preier of God to be herd…Þe fifþe þen is litil ȝernynge of þat men aftir preyen.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.71.49b : Assay þi selff…if þou haue disir and ȝerninge for to haue sumþing’ þat þou hast nouȝt.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)3.4 : Voice of hert, that is gret ȝernynge of godis luf.
b
- a1350 Iesu suete is (Hrl 2253)116 : To haue þi loue is my ȝyrnyng.
- c1400 PLove (Hrl 2254)106/25 : I reproue not gret ȝernynges and louely longyngis.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)113/44 : He wate wele þat it es þi will And þi zernig [read: ȝerning] to cum him till.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)535 : Hym his ȝernynge was ȝett and the ȝates opynede.
- a1500 Eglam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)104 : The erlys doghtyr…mote hyt be at my ȝernynge, On hur ys alle my thoght.
c
- a1450(?a1349) ?Rolle Ihesu god sone (Cmb Dd.5.64)11 : Þi wil es my ȝhernyng.
- a1450(?a1349) ?Rolle Luf es lyf (Cmb Dd.5.64)22 : Take til þe al myne entent, þat þow be my ȝhernyng.
d
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3684 : Fader…sitt vp and ete, I ha broght þi ȝerning mete.
- a1425 HBk.GDei (Hnt HM 148)81/5 : If þou slawnes and heuenes of þe cast and with a lufe-ȝernynge likes þes wordes, þen derworthi God…hastes hym þat he with þe were.
- c1440(?a1375) Abbey HG (Thrn)60/11 : Þus he dose…for to enflawme oure hertes with lufe-ȝernynges, For to wyn and to hafe þe lykynge of þat Ioye.
2.
Physical desire, lust; a physical desire.
Associated quotations
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)6632 : Þe synful brynned ay here, In þe fire of fole yhernyngs sere.
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)109/1287 : Unes may ete for ȝarnynge bod he had had hys love.
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn)26/8 : Þe fend…taries hyme with foulle ȝernynges of fleschely fylthe.
3.
A request, petition; a prayer.
Associated quotations
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.675 : Ic haue ge heord seo kyninges Æðelredes geornunge and þes ærcebiscopes Theodorus.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1114 : Þa geaf se cyng þone abbot rice an munec of Sæis Iohan wæs gehaten, þurh þæs arceb’ gearnunge of Cantwarbyrig.
- a1400(?c1300) LFMass Bk.(Roy 17.B.17)258 : Oure gode ȝernynges þou graunt vs sone.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10513 : Þi gerning god and þi praier Er cummin vn-to godds ere.
- a1425 ME Verse in MA 52p.234 : Petita dabo…I grante þe, son, all þine ȝernyng.