starveling

[ stahrv-ling ]

noun

1. a person, animal, or plant that is starving.

adjective

1. starving; suffering from lack of nourishment.
2. pining with want.
3. poverty-stricken.
4. poor in condition or quality.
5. such as to entail or suggest starvation.

starveling

/ ˈstɑːvlɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. a starving or poorly fed person, animal, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      a starveling child

adjective

1. insufficient; meagre; scant

Word History and Origins

Origin of starveling¹

First recorded in 1540–50; starve + -ling ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of starveling¹

C16: from starve + -ling ¹

Example Sentences

They lay flat and deflated, but laid out in one assembly beside a starveling twisted bush.

From Project Gutenberg

Only the arts which in a pecuniary sense pay, will thrive, and the rest will live a starveling life.

From Project Gutenberg

There is no virtue in a starveling piety which turns all beauty into ugliness and shrivels up every natural affection.

From Project Gutenberg

He will have poor turnips and starveling wheat, and kill his fields with undue apportionments of guano and bonedust.

From Project Gutenberg

Jim was wandering back to the road, deflected now and then by some starveling plant.

From Project Gutenberg