Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ȝarning, vbl. n. Also: ȝarninge, -yng(e, yarn-, yharnyng, ȝarnige. [ME and e.m.E. ȝirnunge (Ancr. R.), ȝerning (Cursor M.), yhernyng (Rolle), yernyng (1357), yearnyng (1567); Ȝarn(e v.]

1. Yearning, longing, desire. Also const. of and to be or do (something).(1) a1400 Leg. S. xviii 916.
I had ofte ful gret batale Of ȝarnige that ofte cuth me assale ?1438 Alex. ii 7718.
As lufe kennys And ȝarnyng leris and lyking lennys(2) a1400 Leg. S. vi 483.
Ȝarninge Of fleschly luste & sinful thynge ?1438 Alex. ii 9614.
Now helpis thé nocht thy great ȝarning Of landis, rentis and vther thing(3) 1375 Barb. xvii 220.
Walter … Haid sa gret will and sic ȝarnyng Ner-hand the marchis for to be a1400 Leg. S. xii 160.
Pylat tald to Judas How his ȝarning hale set was Of thai fare happlis for to het a1400 Leg. S. xxxiv 2.
Tel wil I a tale here, That men suld haf ȝarning to here ?1438 Alex. i 915.
Schir Sampsone … to win had grete ȝarning The land that him had geuin the king ?1438 Alex. ii 7492.
I haue great ȝarning for to se Him that sua rusis my sword to reif c1420 Wynt. ii 1615.
Bot his yharnyng halyly Stude tyll have bene in Ytaly 1535 Stewart 49367.
Rycht greit desyr and ȝarning than had he, Baith da and nicht in his seruice to be

2. An expressed wish or desire. 1375 Barb. iii 742.
Thai to fullfill hys ȝarnyng Become his men 1375 Barb. iv 575.
He … wes rycht weill in will His lordis yharnyng [C. ȝarnyng] to fullfill a1400 Leg. S. ii 744.
Inpossible thinge Was til do his ȝarnynge a1400 Leg. S. xxx 144.
Thu has thi luf set Quhare thi ȝarnyng thu ma nocht get c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2634.
My ȝarnyng Was that Pirrus … Of Thesalie suld sceptour haif c1420 Wynt. viii 1040.
And sa … gat hyr wyll and hyr yharnyng a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 426.
It war his maist yarnyng Your grant for to get