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longing

[lawng-ing, long-]
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noun
  1. strong, persistent desire or craving, especially for something unattainable or distant: filled with longing for home.
  2. an instance of this: a sudden longing to see old friends.
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adjective
  1. having or characterized by persistent or earnest desire: a longing look.
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Origin of longing

before 1000; Middle English; Old English langung; see long2, -ing1
Related formslong·ing·ly, adverblong·ing·ness, noun

Synonyms

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1. aspiration. 3. desirous, yearning.

Synonym study

1. See desire.

Antonyms

1. apathy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

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British Dictionary definitions for longingness

longing

noun
  1. a prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
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adjective
  1. having or showing desire or needa longing look
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Derived Formslongingly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for longingness

longing

n.

"yearning, desire," Old English langung "longing, weariness, sadness, dejection," from long (v.). Related: Longingly.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper