14 uses
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Definition
have a strong desire — often for something difficult or impossible to have
- He was silent a few moments, not looking at her; while her eyes were turned toward him yearningly, in alarm at this sudden change.6.14 — Book 6 Chapter 14 — Waking (89% in)
- In his secret heart he yearned to have Maggie with him, and was almost ready to dote on her exasperating acts of forgetfulness; though, when he was at home, he always represented it as a great favor on his part to let Maggie trot by his side on his pleasure excursions.2.1 — Book 2 Chapter 1 — Tom's "First Half" (59% in)
- Her father's eyes were still turned uneasily toward the door when she entered and met the strange, yearning, helpless look that had been seeking her in vain.3.1 — Book 3 Chapter 1 — What Had Happened at Home (80% in)
- She felt as if her father were come back to her from the dead, and her yearning to show him how she had always loved him could be fulfilled.3.4 — Book 3 Chapter 4 — A Vanishing Gleam (54% in)
- ...back, looking from the bed where her father lay to the dull walls of this sad chamber which was the centre of her world, was a creature full of eager, passionate longings for all that was beautiful and glad; thirsty for all knowledge; with an ear straining after dreamy music that died away and would not come near to her; with a blind, unconscious yearning for something that would link together the wonderful impressions of this mysterious life, and give her soul a sense of home in it.3.5 — Book 3 Chapter 5 — Tom Applies His Knife to the Oyster (99% in)
- Not that the yearning for effectual wisdom was quite unmixed; a certain mirage would now and then rise on the desert of the future, in which she seemed to see herself honored for her surprising attainments.4.3 — Book 4 Chapter 3 — A Voice from the Past (43% in)
- She thought it was part of the hardship of her life that there was laid upon her the burthen of larger wants than others seemed to feel,—that she had to endure this wide, hopeless yearning for that something, whatever it was, that was greatest and best on this earth.4.3 — Book 4 Chapter 3 — A Voice from the Past (51% in)
- "Let me look at the net again," said Mrs. Glegg, yearning after the cheap spots and sprigs, now they were vanishing.5.2 — Book 5 Chapter 2 — Aunt Glegg Learns the Breadth of Bob's Thumb (88% in)
- Her future, she thought, was likely to be worse than her past, for after her years of contented renunciation, she had slipped back into desire and longing; she found joyless days of distasteful occupation harder and harder; she found the image of the intense and varied life she yearned for, and despaired of, becoming more and more importunate.6.2 — Book 6 Chapter 2 — First Impressions (27% in)
- You will like to play, sha'n't you?" she added, with a pretty, inquiring look, anxious, as usual, lest she should have proposed what was not pleasant to another; but with yearnings toward her unfinished embroidery.6.7 — Book 6 Chapter 7 — Philip Re-enters (50% in)
- To have no cloud between herself and Tom was still a perpetual yearning in her, that had its root deeper than all change.6.12 — Book 6 Chapter 12 — A Family Party (60% in)
- Maggie listened, passing from her startled wonderment to the yearning after that belief that the tide was doing it all, that she might glide along with the swift, silent stream, and not struggle any more.6.13 — Book 6 Chapter 13 — Borne Along by the Tide (66% in)
- She remembered the momentary feeling of reliance that had sprung in her when he was talking with her, and she waited with yearning expectation for the opportunity of confiding everything to him.7.2 — Book 7 Chapter 2 — St. Ogg's Passes Judgment (38% in)
- Then with one yearning look toward her uncle Deane's house that lay farther down the river, she took to both her oars and rowed with all her might across the watery fields, back toward the Mill.7.5 — Book 7 Chapter 5 — The Last Conflict (77% in)
There are no more uses of "yearn" in The Mill on the Floss.
Typical Usage
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