Standard Lemma guide

athirst

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /əˈθɜːst/
  • rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)st

1

adj

Meaning 1

Thirsty.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Eager or extremely desirous (for something).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • 1913, Rabindranath Tagore, The Gardener, translated from the Bengali by the author, 5, I am restless. I am athirst for far-away things. My soul goes out in a longing to touch the skirt of the dim distance.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English athirst, from Old English ofþyrst, past participle of ofþyrstan (“to smart from thirst”), equivalent to a- (“of”, Etymology 8) + thirst (verb).