Thirst, v. t. To have a thirst
for. [R.]
He seeks his keeper's flesh, and thirsts his
blood.
Prior.Thirst, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Thirsted; p. pr. & vb. n. Thirsting.] [AS.
þyrstan. See Thirst, n.]
1. To feel thirst; to experience a painful or uneasy
sensation of the throat or fauces, as for want of drink.
The people thirsted there for water.
Ex. xvii. 3.
2. To have a vehement desire.
My soul thirsteth for . . . the living
God.
Ps. xlii. 2.Thirst (?), n. [OE. thirst,
þurst, AS. þurst, þyrst; akin to D.
dorst, OS. thurst, G. durst, Icel.
þorsti, Sw. & Dan. törst, Goth.
þaúrstei thirst, þaúrsus dry,
withered, þaúrsieþ mik I thirst,
gaþaírsan to wither, L. torrere to parch, Gr.
te`rsesqai to become dry, tesai`nein to dry up, Skr.
tṛsh to thirst. √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.
Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt,
to kill us, and our children . . . with thirst?
Ex.
xvii. 3.
With thirst, with cold, with hunger so
confounded.
Chaucer.
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.