The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Hanker \Han"ker\ (h[a^][ng]"k[~e]r), v. i. [imp. & p. p.
   Hankered (-k[~e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Hankering.] [Prob.
   fr. hang; cf. D. hunkeren, hengelen.]
   1. To long (for) with a keen appetite and uneasiness; to have
      a vehement desire; -- usually with for or after; as, to
      hanker after fruit; to hanker after the diversions of the
      town. --Addison.
      [1913 Webster]

            He was hankering to join his friend.  --J. A.
                                                  Symonds.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To linger in expectation or with desire. --Thackeray.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

hanker
    v 1: desire strongly or persistently [syn: hanker, long,
         yearn]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

24 Moby Thesaurus words for "hanker":
   ache, covet, crave, desire, fancy, hunger, hunger after,
   hunger for, itch for, long for, lust, lust after, lust for, pine,
   pine for, sigh, thirst, thirst after, thirst for, want, wish,
   yearn, yearn for, yen