The act of greatly desiring or wanting something; an intense longing or craving.
From Latin desideratio, derived from desiderare (to desire, long for), possibly from de- (from) + sidus (star), suggesting looking away from one's star or fortune. The meaning evolved from a simple desire to an intense, specific longing.
Ancient Romans might have used this word when talking about missing someone or something so intensely that it felt like losing a star from the sky—literally 'de' (away from) your 'sidus' (star). This poetic root shows how our deepest yearnings have been described the same way for 2,000 years.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.