famish

[ fam-ish ]

verb (used with or without object)

, Archaic.

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

famish

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈfamishment, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of famish¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of famish¹

C14: from Old French afamer , via Vulgar Latin, from Latin famēs famine

Example Sentences

“The lesson of the digital era: Chase fads, fantasy and clicks, you fade or famish,” Mr. VandeHei said.

From New York Times

“What will it avail you to take that by force you may quickly have by love? Or to destroy them that provide you food? What can you get by war when we can hide our provisions and fly to the woods? Whereby you must famish by wronging us, your friends.”

From Literature

Play with the sounds bouncing around: “stark” to “stock,” “famish” to “fathered.”

From New York Times

I sleep not; I watch: in blows the wind ice-wing'd and ice-fingered: My forehead it cools and slakes the fire in my breast; Though it sighs o'er the plains where oft thine exiles look'd back, and long lingered, And the graves where thy famish'd lie dumb and thine outcasts find rest.

From Project Gutenberg

But rather famish them amid their plenty.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abstain