Starveling: meaning, definitions and examples

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starveling

 

[ หˆstษ‘หrvษ™lษชล‹ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

literary term

Starveling is a term often used in literature to describe a person who is very thin or emaciated, typically due to malnutrition or prolonged hunger. It can evoke a sense of poverty and neglect, often used to create a particular atmosphere in a story.

Synonyms

emaciated, gaunt, scrawny, thin.

Examples of usage

  • The starveling beggar shivered in the cold.
  • In the novella, the protagonist is a starveling child with dreams of food.
  • The story painted a vivid picture of a starveling family struggling to make ends meet.

Translations

Translations of the word "starveling" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น faminto

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคญเฅเค–เคฎเคฐเฅ€

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Hungriger

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ kelaparan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะณะพะปะพะดะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ gล‚odny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ้ฃขใˆใŸ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท affamรฉ

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ hambriento

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท aรง

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ตถ์ฃผ๋ฆฐ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฌุงุฆุน

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ hladovรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ hladnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้ฅฅ้ฅฟ็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ laฤen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ sveltur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐัˆั‚ั‹า›

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒจแƒ˜แƒ”แƒ แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ac

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ hambriento

Etymology

The word 'starveling' dates back to Middle English, originating from the term 'starvel', which means 'to starve'. The idea of being starved or thin is encapsulated in this term, which combines 'starv-' from 'starven' (to starve) and the diminutive suffix '-ling'. Historically, the term also had roots in Old English, where 'styrfan' referred to starvation. The usage of 'starveling' gained literary popularity in the 16th and 17th centuries, especially in the works of authors like William Shakespeare, where it was employed to describe characters in dire situations or to emphasize themes of hardship and want. Today, while it retains its literary charm, it is less commonly used in everyday language.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,289, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.