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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ȝarn(e, Yarn, Ȝairn(e, v. Also: ȝharn, yharne, ȝern(e, ȝearn. P.t. also ȝarnite, -yte. [ME and e.m.E. ȝern-, ȝiern- (both c1200), ȝeorrn- (Orm), ȝirne (Layamon), yern, yherne (both Cursor M.), yearne (1576), OE (Northumb.) ᵹiorna.]

1. tr.To desire, long for (something). Also const. clause object, object and infinitive and simple infinitive. Also proverb.(1) pres. a1400 Leg. S. i 511.
It, that we Ȝarne, sal fall ws 1385 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 7.
Yharnand thair endeful and tendyr frenschepe c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxi 19.
We ȝarne thy presens, bot oft thow hes refusit Till cum ws till 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 50.
So am I sure thy maiestie Sall anis rewarde me or I de … Althocht I beir nocht lyke ane baird, Lang seruyce ȝarnis, ay, rewaird(b) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 930 (B).
Gif he ȝairnis [Ch. ȝearnis] my presence Bring him to me with diligence c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 627.
That death ȝe ȝairne, it sall fast frome ȝow fle(c) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 129.
He trowis that ȝoung folk I ȝerne ȝeild for he gane isproverb. c1460 Thewis Gud Women 190.
At e nocht seis, hart nocht ȝarnisp.t. ?1438 Alex. ii 2430.
For ȝe haue tald me wonder weill All that I ȝarned c1400 Troy-bk. ii 33.
Thar wyles feyned Which yharnyt [D. ȝarnyt] hys wndoyng a1500 Sir Eger 354.
Sundry times at me they sought If that I would or yarned oughtp.p. 1375 Barb. i 232.
Fre liking Is ȝharnyt our all other thing 1375 Barb. vii 377.
He suld haiff ȝarnyt resting This nycht atour all other thing(2) 1375 Barb. ii 510.
Bot threldome that men gert thaim fele Gert thaim ay ȝarne that he fur wele c1420 Ratis R. 336.
Rychtwysnes … ȝarnis neuir mar na les Bot that thow pres to do … Rycht as thow wald to the war done(3) a1400 Leg. S. iii 423.
I ȝarne thé … to here the priwete c1420 Wynt. v 260.
Octovyane yharnyd hym to be Hys ayre and his neyst successoure 1424 Lanark & R. 282.
Considerande and ȝarnande the fredome of bath the burws to be suppleit(4) pres. 1375 Barb. i 158.
The kynryk ȝharn I nocht to have Bot gyff it fall off rycht to me 1375 Barb. vii 11.
Ȝe sall son se [Fyve hunder] ȝarnand ȝow to sla a1400 Leg. S. l 787.
I yharne nocht for to dissawe thé 1568 Grant Chart. 285.
I … yarnis maist ernestle to retene the auld and renew the new(b) c1420 Wynt. i Prol. 3 (E²).
Ȝairnis(c) a1568 Jok & Jynny 9.
Ȝernp.t. a1400 Leg. S. vii 605.
Gyfe that he ȝarnyte … To hawe his hele a1400 Leg. S. x 314.
Yrtacus … ȝarnite maste of ony thinge The kingis dowchtir for to wed

2. intr.To feel a strong desire or longing, to yearn (to, efter, for something). b. To feel or show compassion. This may be an example of Ȝarn(e adv. 1.(1) a1585 Maitl. Q. 103/5.
I die ȝairning I leif pyning(2) 1375 Barb. xviii 541.
Thai ȝarnyt to thar land a1500 Rauf C. 837.
‘Ȝarne efter ȝeilding,' on ilk syde thay call 1573 Davidson in Sat. P. xlii 750.
Thay pepill … That … ȝarnis for fude with sa greit ȝeillb. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 5/11.
Ȝerne, us guberne, virgin matern