famish

American  

[fam-ish] / ˈfæm ɪʃ /

verb (used with or without object)

Archaic.

1. to suffer or cause to suffer extreme hunger; starve.

2. to starve to death.

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famish British  

/ ˈfæmɪʃ /

verb

1. (now usually passive) to be or make very hungry or weak

2. archaic to die or cause to die from starvation

3. to make very cold

   I was famished with the cold

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Other Word Forms

• famishment
  noun

Etymology

Origin of famish

1350–1400; Middle English famisshe, equivalent to famen to starve (< Anglo-French, Middle French afamer < Vulgar Latin *affamāre, equivalent to Latin af- af- + famāre, derivative of famēs hunger) + -isshe -ish ²

Example Sentences

The President pondered, smiled, said: "Well, they can't famish on that."

From Time Magazine Archive

I take my eyes from what too much would please, As men in fevers famish their disease.

From The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 04 by Scott, Walter, Sir

We Mardians famish on the superficial strata of deposits; cracking our jaws on walnuts, filberts, cocoa-nuts, and clams.

From Mardi: and A Voyage Thither, Vol. II by Melville, Herman

"The sea-air makes one famish," said a gay voice outside.

From Bred in the Bone by Payn, James

Such is their filial piety, that they will often give the half of these pitiful wages to their parents, to relieve their necessities, preferring almost to famish themselves rather than see them want.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 09 Arranged in Systematic Order: Forming a Complete History of the Origin and Progress of Navigation, Discovery, and Commerce, by Sea and Land, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time by Kerr, Robert

Related Words

• abstain