Starveling: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
starveling
[ หstษหrvษlษชล ]
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:
๐ต๐น faminto
๐ฎ๐ณ เคญเฅเคเคฎเคฐเฅ
๐ฉ๐ช Hungriger
๐ฎ๐ฉ kelaparan
๐บ๐ฆ ะณะพะปะพะดะฝะธะน
๐ต๐ฑ gลodny
๐ฏ๐ต ้ฃขใใ
๐ซ๐ท affamรฉ
๐ช๐ธ hambriento
๐น๐ท aรง
๐ฐ๐ท ๊ตถ์ฃผ๋ฆฐ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฌุงุฆุน
๐จ๐ฟ hladovรฝ
๐ธ๐ฐ hladnรฝ
๐จ๐ณ ้ฅฅ้ฅฟ็
๐ธ๐ฎ laฤen
๐ฎ๐ธ sveltur
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะฐัััา
๐ฌ๐ช แแจแแแ แ
๐ฆ๐ฟ ac
๐ฒ๐ฝ 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.