What does "longer" mean?

1. (one who yearns) someone who wants or misses something very much.

How do you use "longer"?

Rarely used in modern speech; found mostly in poetry or older literature.

longer

US //ˈɫɔŋɡɝ// UK //lˈɒŋɡɐ// longer

1 one who yearns (n.)
C2 Proficiency Literary

someone who wants or misses something very much.

an agent noun referring to a person who experiences a strong desire or yearning for something.

Example

The poet described himself as a longer for lost days.

Example

In the final stanza, the protagonist is depicted as a weary longer for a homeland he can no longer reach.

Usage

Rarely used in modern speech; found mostly in poetry or older literature.
- yearner
- wanter

Etymology 1

From Middle English longer, longere, normalisation of Middle English lenger, lengere (“longer”), from Old English lengra (“longer”), from Proto-Germanic langizô (“longer”), comparative of Proto-Germanic langaz (“long”), equivalent to long + -er. Cognate with Saterland Frisian laanger (“longer”), West Frisian langer (“longer”), Dutch langer (“longer”), German länger (“longer”), Danish længere (“longer”), Swedish längre (“longer”), Icelandic lengri (“longer”).

Etymology 2

From long (“yearn”) + -er.