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

But, in the interim, she must starve and famish like a white mouse learning to dance.'

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine — Volume 56, No. 345, July, 1844 by Various

"It's famish, this fashion," muttered the elderly cynic.

From A Son of Hagar A Romance of Our Time by Caine, Hall, Sir

So viands were produced; to which the guests were invited to pay heedful attention; or take the consequences, and famish till the long voyage in prospect was ended.

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

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