famish

pronunciation

How to pronounce famish in British English: UK ['fæmɪʃ]word uk audio image

How to pronounce famish in American English: US [ˈfæmɪʃ] word us audio image

  • Verb:
    be hungry; go without food
    deprive of food
    die of food deprivation

Word Origin

famish (v.)
"cause to hunger," c. 1400, famyschen, "alteration of famen (late 14c.), a shortening of Old French afamer (12c., Modern French affamer), from Vulgar Latin *affamare "to bring to hunger," from ad famem, from Latin fames "hunger" (see famine). Ending changed mid-14c. to -ish under influence of ravish, anguish, etc. It also once had an intransitive sense and was so used by Shakespeare and Milton. Related: Famished; famishing.

Example

1. They are famish for food .

more: >How to Use "famish" with Example Sentences