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

"At dinner, overindulgence doesn't happen because you don’t come to the table famished," she added.

From Salon

And audiences, it turned out, were famished for such a protagonist.

From Los Angeles Times

It was Ramadan, and when the time came to break the traditional fast, T was famished.

From Seattle Times

The district ranger was expecting the crew at his ranger station, so he and his wife treated the famished smokejumpers to a chicken dinner, ice cream and apple pie when they emerged from the backcountry.

From Seattle Times

Forty-two people — and let’s not forget they’re people — arrived in downtown Los Angeles, presumably famished as well as frightened after a 23-hour bus ride with starvation rations.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abstain