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fam·ish

(fămĭsh)

v. fam·ished, fam·ish·ing, fam·ish·es

v.tr.

1. To cause to endure severe hunger.

2. To cause to starve to death.

v.intr.

1. To endure severe deprivation, especially of food.

2. To undergo starvation and die.

[Middle English famishen, alteration of famen, from Old French afamer, from Vulgar Latin *affamāre : Latin ad-, ad- + Latin famēs, hunger.]

famish·ment n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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