What is Palestrina's 'Sicut cervus desiderat' in English?

Answer 1

Just as the deer thirsts is the English equivalent of 'Sicut cervus desiderat'. In the word by word translation, the adverb 'sicut' means 'as, just as'. The noun 'cervus' means 'deer'. The verb 'desiderat' means '[he/she/it] is desiring, desires, does desire'.

The text is taken from the latin of Psalm 42, which is commonly translated "As the hart longs [for running water, So longs my soul for you, O God]"

Therefore the more accurate way to translate it to English would be 'As the hart longs'.