athirst

American  

[uh-thurst] / əˈθɜrst /

adjective

1. having a keen desire; eager (often followed byfor ).

   She has long been athirst for European travel.

2. Archaic. thirsty.

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athirst British  

/ əˈθɜːst /

adjective

1. (often foll by for) having an eager desire; longing

2. archaic thirsty

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Etymology

Origin of athirst

before 1000; Middle English athurst, ofthurst, Old English ofthyrst, past participle of ofthyrstan. See a- ², thirst

Example Sentences

Here by my hearth where he was I listen For the shade of the sound of a word, Athirst for the birdlike eyes to glisten, For the tongue to chirp like a bird.

From A Dark Month From Swinburne's Collected Poetical Works Vol. V by Swinburne, Algernon Charles

Athirst, too, for wisdom: he has given one of his eyes for Wisdom, in the person of Fricka, who combines in herself law and order and domestic virtue.

From The Wagnerian Romances by Brownell, Gertrude Hall

It was the good ship Billycock, with thirteen men aboard, Athirst to grapple with their country's foes,— A crew, 'twill be admitted, not numerically fitted To navigate a battleship in prose.

From Modern British Poetry by Untermeyer, Louis

Athirst, ashamèd, he yieldeth his breath, While one looks down from his charger; and calm slow smiling,   Curleth his lip.

From Poems by Jean Ingelow, In Two Volumes, Volume II. by Ingelow, Jean

Athirst and affrightened he fled from the star-wrought waters of Kishon.

From Song-Surf by Rice, Cale Young