hanker — to have a strong desire or craving for something
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to have a strong desire or craving for something
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈhæŋkər/
Example Sentences
- After years of city life, Tom hankers for a quiet countryside cottage.
- My cat hankers for expensive tuna but gets cheap cat food instead.
- Students always hanker for summer vacation during exam season.
hanker
VERB[/ˈhæŋkər/]
to have a strong desire or craving for something
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Hanker derives from 17th-century Dutch 'hunkeren', meaning 'to yearn or desire'. The word originally referred to shivering or huddling from cold, which became metaphorically associated with the trembling or restless desire for something, eventually evolving to mean 'to have a keen desire for'.
Breakdown
Dutch 'hunkeren' (to yearn, to shiver) → English 'hanker'. The semantic shift from physical trembling to emotional longing reflects a common metaphorical pattern in Germanic languages, where bodily movements express psychological states.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“After years of city life, Tom hankers for a quiet countryside cottage.”
“My cat hankers for expensive tuna but gets cheap cat food instead.”
“Students always hanker for summer vacation during exam season.”
“He hankers after his ex-girlfriend's cooking, especially her burnt toast.”
📚Related Words
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