An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/sehnen

by Friedrich Kluge

sehnen, vb., ‘to long, yearn,’ from MidHG. senen, ‘to long, inspire with longing’; allied to MidHG. sene, f., ‘yearning, longing.’ Unrecorded in OHG. and the other OTeut. dials. perhaps only by chance; of obscure origin, but probably genuine Teut.