- Thirst
- Thirst Thirst (th[~e]rst), n. [OE. thirst, [thorn]urst, AS.
[thorn]urst, [thorn]yrst; akin to D. dorst, OS. thurst, G.
durst, Icel. [thorn]orsti, Sw. & Dan. t["o]rst, Goth.
[thorn]a['u]rstei thirst, [thorn]a['u]rsus dry, withered,
[thorn]a['u]rsie[thorn] mik I thirst, ga[thorn]a['i]rsan to
wither, L. torrere to parch, Gr. te`rsesqai to become dry,
tesai`nein to dry up, Skr. t[.r]sh to thirst. [root]54. Cf.
{Torrid}.]
1. A sensation of dryness in the throat associated with a
craving for liquids, produced by deprivation of drink, or
by some other cause (as fear, excitement, etc.) which
arrests the secretion of the pharyngeal mucous membrane;
hence, the condition producing this sensation.
[1913 Webster]
Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, and our children . . . with thirst? --Ex. xvii. 3. [1913 Webster]
With thirst, with cold, with hunger so confounded. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
2. Fig.: A want and eager desire after anything; a craving or longing; -- usually with for, of, or after; as, the thirst for gold. ``Thirst of worldy good.'' --Fairfax. ``The thirst I had of knowledge.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
