Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CRAVE, v.t. [Sax. crafian, to crave ask, implore; W. crevu, to cry, to cry for, to crave; crev, a cry, a scream; Sw. krafia; Dan. kræver; Ice. krefa. See Class Rb, No. 2, 4, Syr. So also D. roepen, Sax. hreopen, Goth. hropyan, to cry out, as our vulgar phrase is, to rip out. The primary sense is to cry out, or call.]

1. To ask with earnestness or importunity; to beseech; to implore; to ask with submission or humility, as a dependent; to beg; to entreat. As for my nobler friends, I crave their pardons. – Shak. Joseph … went in boldly to Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. – Mark xv.
2. To call for, as a gratification; to long for; to require or demand, as a passion or appetite; as, the stomach or appetite craves food.
3. Sometimes intransitively, with for before the thing sought; as, I crave for mercy.