Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Famish \Fam"ish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Famished}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Famishing}.] [OE. famen; cf. OF. afamer, L. fames. See
   {Famine}, and cf. {Affamish}.]
   1. To starve, kill, or destroy with hunger. --Shak.

   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.