[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

hanker \han"ker\ ha^ng"k~er, v. i. imp.  p. p.
   hankered -k~erd; p. pr.  vb. n. hankering. prob.
   fr. hang; cf. d. hunkeren, hengelen.
   1. to long for with a keen appetite and uneasiness; to have
      a vehement desire; -- usually with for or after; as, to
      hanker after fruit; to hanker after the diversions of the
      town. --addison.
      1913 webster

            he was hankering to join his friend.  --j. a.
                                                  symonds.
      1913 webster

   2. to linger in expectation or with desire. --thackeray.
      1913 webster
see also:
hankered hankering 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

hanker
     v : desire strongly or persistently syn: long, yearn
see also:
long yearn 

[3] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

24 moby thesaurus words for "hanker":
   ache, covet, crave, desire, fancy, hunger, hunger after,
   hunger for, itch for, long for, lust, lust after, lust for, pine,
   pine for, sigh, thirst, thirst after, thirst for, want, wish,
   yearn, yearn for, yen

Hanker >> H Words
Hanker, definition of term: Hanker
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