famine (n.)

mid-14c., from Old French famine "famine, starvation" (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *famina, from Latin fames "hunger, starvation, famine," which is of unknown origin.

Entries linking to famine

famish (v.)

"cause to hunger," c. 1400, famyschen, "alteration of famen (late 14c.), a shortening of Old French afamer (12c., Modern French affamer), from Vulgar Latin *affamare "to bring to hunger," from ad famem, from Latin fames "hunger" (see famine).

Ending changed mid-14c. to -ish under influence of ravish, anguish, etc. It also once had an intransitive sense and was so used by Shakespeare and Milton. Related: Famished; famishing.

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updated on October 12, 2014

Definitions of famine from WordNet

famine (n.)

an acute insufficiency;

Synonyms: dearth / shortage

famine (n.)

a severe shortage of food (as through crop failure) resulting in violent hunger and starvation and death;

Etymologies are not definitions. From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near famine

familiarization

familiarize

familiarly

family

family-room

famine

famish

famous

famously

fan

fanatic