Forms: α. 1 ð-, þyrst-, 2–4 þirst-, 3–4 þurst- (ü), (4 furst-), 4–6 thurst-, 5–6 thyrst-, 5– thirst. β. 4 þryst-, þrist-, þrest-, 4–6 thrust-, 5 thryst-, 5–6 threst-, thrist-. [OE. þyrstan, f. þurst THIRST sb. Cf. OS. thurstian (Du. dorsten), OHG. dursten (G. dürsten), ON. þyrsta (Sw. törsta, Da. törste).]
† 1. impers. as in me thirsteth, ‘it thirsts me,’ I am thirsty. (In OE. with accus. of person and gen. of thing, or with dat. of person.)
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., ii. 30. Ðeah ðæt folc ðyrste ðære lare.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John xix. 28. Þa cwæð he, me þyrst.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 194. Þa men ne þyrst.
c. 1200. Ormin, 14603. Ȝiff þatt iss þatt te þirrsteþþ.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 199. Hire þurst swiðe.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 23085. Me thristed sare, drinc yee me broght.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Monk’s T., 49. So thursted hym, that he was wel ny lorn.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxxvi. 221. A! me thristis sare.
2. intr. To feel or suffer thirst; to be thirsty. Also transf., e.g., of parched ground or plants. Somewhat arch.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., John xix. 28. Cuoeð ic ðyrsto.
c. 975. Rushw. Gosp., John iv. 14. Seðe wutudlice drinceð of wætre dæt ic selo him ne ðyrstet in ecnisse.
1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 5771. I thrested, and yhe me na drynk bedde.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Cor. iv. 11. We hungren, and thirsten, and ben nakid.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xliv. (Bodl. MS.). Euerich beeste with lunges þrusteþ moche.
14[?]. Lybeaus Disc. (1890), 1426. Sir Libeaus þursted sore And seide … To drinke let me go.
1530. Palsgr., 757/1. I Thrust, I want drinke.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 146. You shall gyue them water as oft as they thirst.
1611. Bible, Isa. lv. 1. Ho, euery one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.
1649, 1770, 1820. [see THIRSTING ppl. a.].
1871. R. Ellis, Catullus, lxviii. 79. Bloodless of high sacrifice, Now thirsts each desolate altar!
1875. [see THIRSTY 1].
3. fig. To have a longing, craving, or strong desire. Const. in OE. with gen., = of; later after, for († to) something, to do something.
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., II. iv. § 10. Þu þe þyrstende wære monnes blodes.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xlii. (Agatha), 87. Scho thristyt … for til cume til hewynnis kyng.
1388. Wyclif, Ps. lxii. 2 [lxiii. 1]. Mi soule thirstide to thee; my fleisch thirstide to thee ful many foold.
1419. in Sharpe, Lond. & Kingd. (1894–5), III. 363. Your poure lieges þat have loong thrusted after knowlech of your prosperite.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VII., 25 b. The Frenche nacion … thrusted for the blood … of the poore Brytones.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 157. The Turkish Emperor … thirsting to open a way into Moscouie.
1791. Burke, App. Whigs, Wks. VI. 203. It is not necessary to teach men to thirst after power.
1858. G. Macdonald, Phantastes, v. (1878), 75. I entered, thirsting for the shade which it promised.
† 4. trans. To desire vehemently; to long for. Obs.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. v. 6. Eadʓe biðon ða ðe hyncgrað & ðyrstas soðfæstnisse.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., ibid. Eadiʓe synt þa ðe rihtwisnesse hingriað & þyrstað.
c. 1050. Liber Scintill., x. 49.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, Cant., 506. Erthly kyngis þat threstis mannys blode.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. v. 6. Blessid be thei that hungren and thristen riȝtwisnesse, for thei shuln ben fulfillid.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), III. 471. Ye thruste golde … and couette honoure.
1527. Tindale, Obed. Chr. Man, To Rdr. 20 b. Sufficient vnto them that thirst the trueth.
1593. Q. Eliz., Boeth., I. iv. 11. Wicked men, that thursted the blud of all the senate.
1718. Prior, Solomon, I. 203. He seeks his keeper’s flesh, and thirsts his blood.
Hence † Thirsted ppl. a., longed for.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XXII. 277. His bright and sparkling eyes … sought through all that prise The next way to his thirsted life.
