Hankering

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A deep-seated longing for something that evokes a powerful, persistent craving
2. An intense desire that drives one's thoughts towards a specific aspiration or goal
3. A strong and persistent yearning for something desired that can dominate one's thoughts and emotions

Etymology: "Hankering" is the noun form of "hanker," and its roots lie in the idea of hanging. "Hanker" traces back to a Proto-Germanic verb "hanhaną," meaning "to hang," and was shaped by a frequentative suffix "-er" that turns a single action into a repeated one. The sense is of something that keeps hanging on, returning again and again, much like a longing that will not let go. The same root produced a close relative in Dutch, "hunkeren," meaning "to crave," which keeps the sense of persistent desire alive in a sister language. The English word carries that same pattern: a craving that repeatedly pulls at the mind rather than a passing wish.

Synonyms: craving, desire, longing, yearning, wanting

Antonyms: disinterest, aversion