Famishing: meaning, definitions and examples

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famishing

 

[ ˈfæmɪʃɪŋ ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

extreme hunger

Famishing describes a state of extreme hunger or starvation. It conveys a feeling of desperate need for food, often accompanied by physical weakness and discomfort. The term can also imply a sense of urgency in the need for nourishment, suggesting that the individual is suffering due to a lack of food. This condition can be a result of various factors, including famine, illness, or poverty.

Synonyms

hunger-stricken, insatiable, ravenous, starving

Examples of usage

  • After days in the wilderness, I was famishing for a proper meal.
  • The refugees were famishing and in urgent need of aid.
  • She felt famishing after skipping breakfast and lunch.

Translations

Translations of the word "famishing" in other languages:

🇵🇹 faminto

🇮🇳 भुखमरी

🇩🇪 verhungern

🇮🇩 kelaparan

🇺🇦 голодний

🇵🇱 głodny

🇯🇵 飢えている

🇫🇷 affamé

🇪🇸 hambriento

🇹🇷 açlık çeken

🇰🇷 굶주린

🇸🇦 جائع

🇨🇿 hladovějící

🇸🇰 hladujúci

🇨🇳 饥饿的

🇸🇮 lačen

🇮🇸 svelta

🇰🇿 аштық

🇬🇪 მშიერი

🇦🇿 

🇲🇽 hambriento

Etymology

The word 'famishing' originates from the late 14th century, derived from the Middle English term 'famishen', which means 'to make hungry or to cause to starve'. This, in turn, comes from the Old French 'famir', based on the Latin 'fames', meaning 'hunger' or 'famine'. The evolution of this term reflects societal concerns about food security and the impact of hunger on human wellbeing. Over the centuries, 'famishing' has been used in literature and discourse to describe not just physical hunger, but also metaphorical hunger for knowledge, success, or emotional connection. As the global understanding of nutrition and food distribution has progressed, the term continues to evoke strong imagery of deprivation and urgency.