Dictionary

famish

verb fam·ish \ˈfa-mish\

Definition of FAMISH

transitive verb

: to cause to suffer severely from hunger

archaic : to cause to starve to death

intransitive verb

archaic : starve

: to suffer for lack of something necessary <a moment when French poetry in particular was famishing for such invention — T. S. Eliot>

— fam·ish·ment \-mənt\ noun

See famish defined for kids

Middle English, probably alteration of famen, from Anglo-French afamer, from Vulgar Latin *affamare, from Latin ad- + fames

First Known Use: 15th century

FAMISHMENT Defined for Kids

verb fam·ish \ˈfa-mish\

fam·ishedfam·ish·ing

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