hunger
UK[ˈhʌŋɡə(r)]US[ˈhʌŋɡər]
n
The feeling you have when you need to eat.
n
A strong desire or need for something.
v
To have a strong desire or need for something.
Etymology
The word 'hunger' originates from the Old English 'hungor', which denoted both the physical sensation and famine. This term is shared across Germanic languages, such as Old High German 'hungar' and Old Norse 'hungr', all pointing to a common Proto-Germanic ancestor 'hungruz'. The root's deeper history is traced to the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) stem 'kenk-', meaning 'to burn, to be dry, to be hungry', a vivid semantic link connecting the physical pangs of hunger to a sensation of burning or emptiness. Over centuries, the word's core meaning of physical need remained stable in English, while also developing a powerful metaphorical extension to describe any intense craving or longing, thus carrying forward the ancient sense of a consuming desire.
Analysis
The modern English word 'hunger' is a simplex word derived from a single, tight Germanic root. It is not productively formed from smaller, independent morphemes in contemporary English.
Examples
The charity works to alleviate hunger and poverty in the region.
She had a hunger for knowledge that drove her to read constantly.
They hunger for a sense of justice in an unfair world.