thirst
UK: θɜːst | US: θɜːrst
n. 1. A feeling of needing or wanting to drink.
n. 2. A strong desire for something (often metaphorical).
v. 3. (archaic) To feel a need to drink; to be thirsty.
thirst = thirs<dry> + t (Old English suffix)
- thirs (from Proto-Germanic þurstuz, meaning "dryness" or "drought")
- t (a nominal suffix in Old English, forming abstract nouns)
Etymology Origin:
The word "thirst" traces back to Old English þurst, derived from Proto-Germanic þurstuz, which originally meant "dryness." This root is also linked to the verb þyrstan ("to thirst"), reflecting the physical sensation of dryness in the mouth. Over time, the meaning expanded metaphorically to describe any intense desire (e.g., "thirst for knowledge"). The Proto-Indo-European root ters- ("to dry") connects it to words like "torrid" and "terrain," emphasizing the ancient association between dryness and longing.
After the long hike, he felt a burning thirst and drank two bottles of water.
Her thirst for adventure led her to travel to remote places.
The desert heat intensified their thirst.
(Archaic) "They thirsted in the wilderness, and God provided water."
The politician's thirst for power was evident in his ruthless campaigns.