Fam·ish v. t. [imp. & p. p. Famished p. pr. & vb. n. Famishing.]
 1. To starve, kill, or destroy with hunger.
 2. To exhaust the strength or endurance of, by hunger; to distress with hanger.
    And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread.   --Cen. xli. 55.
    The pains of famished Tantalus he'll feel.   --Dryden.
 3. To kill, or to cause to suffer extremity, by deprivation or denial of anything necessary.
    And famish him of breath, if not of bread.   --Milton.
 4. To force or constrain by famine.
    He had famished Paris into a surrender.   --Burke.