Famish — Fam ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Famished}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Famishing}.] [OE. famen; cf. OF. afamer, L. fames. See {Famine}, and cf. {Affamish}.] 1. To starve, kill, or destroy with hunger. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To exhaust the strength or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
famish — c.1400, famyschen, alteration of famen (late 14c.), aphetic of O.Fr. afamer, from V.L. *affamare to bring to hunger, from ad famem, from L. fames hunger (see FAMINE (Cf. famine)). Ending changed mid 14c. to ish under influence of ravish, anguish … Etymology dictionary
famish — [fam′ish] vt., vi. [ME famishen, altered (after verbs ending in ish : see ISH) < famen, aphetic < OFr afamer < VL * affamare < L ad, to + fames, hunger: see FAMINE] 1. to make or be very hungry; make or become weak from hunger 2. Obs … English World dictionary
famish — /ˈfæmɪʃ/ (say famish) verb (i) 1. to suffer extreme hunger; starve. 2. Obsolete to starve to death. {Middle English fame(n) famish (from Latin fames hunger) + ish2} –famishment, noun …
famish — verb /ˈfamɪʃ/ a) To exhaust the strength or endurance of, by hunger; to distress with hunger. Even so did Corellius Rufus, another grave senator, by the relation of Plinius Secundus, Epist. lib. 1, epist. 12, famish himself to death [...]. <!… … Wiktionary
Famish — Beginning in the early 1980s, the administration of U.S. President Ronald Reagan searched for ways to reduce the Soviet intelligence presence in the United States. The “Famish” action was precipitated in September 1986 when the KGB arrested… … Historical dictionary of Russian and Soviet Intelligence
famish — verb archaic reduce or be reduced to extreme hunger. Origin ME: from obs. fame starve, famish , from OFr. afamer, based on L. fames hunger … English new terms dictionary
famish — verb Etymology: Middle English, probably alteration of famen, from Anglo French afamer, from Vulgar Latin *affamare, from Latin ad + fames Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. to cause to suffer severely from hunger 2. archaic to cause to starve … New Collegiate Dictionary
famish — /fam ish/, v.t., v.i. Archaic. 1. to suffer or cause to suffer extreme hunger; starve. 2. to starve to death. [1350 1400; ME famisshe, equiv. to famen to starve ( < AF, MF afamer < VL *affamare, equiv. to L af AF + famare, deriv. of fames hunger) … Universalium
famish — (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) v. starve, die of hunger, be hungry; pinch, exhaust. See parsimony. Ant., sate … English dictionary for students
