Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

famine

 - 5 dictionary results
End Famine Today
One Billion Children Face Extreme Hunger. Learn How You Can Help!
www.WorldVision.org
Famine In Africa Info
Get Info On Famine In Africa Access 10 Search Engines At Once.
www.Info.com/FamineInAfrica

fam⋅ine

  [fam-in]
Use famine in a Sentence
–noun
1. extreme and general scarcity of food, as in a country or a large geographical area.
2. any extreme and general scarcity.
3. extreme hunger; starvation.
Origin:
1325–75; ME < MF, deriv. of faim hunger (< L famēs); see -ine 2

Synonyms:
2. dearth, paucity, poverty, meagerness, scantness.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To famine
End Famine Today
One Billion Children Face Extreme Hunger. Learn How You Can Help!
www.WorldVision.org
Famine In Africa Info
Get Info On Famine In Africa Access 10 Search Engines At Once.
www.Info.com/FamineInAfrica
fam·ine   (fām'ĭn)   
n.  

  1. A drastic, wide-reaching food shortage.

  2. A drastic shortage; a dearth.

  3. Severe hunger; starvation.

  4. Archaic Extreme appetite.


[Middle English, from Old French, from faim, hunger, from Latin famēs.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

famine 
1362, from O.Fr. famine "hunger," from L. fames "hunger," of unknown origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Bible Dictionary

Famine

The first mentioned in Scripture was so grievous as to compel Abraham to go down to the land of Egypt (Gen. 26:1). Another is mentioned as having occurred in the days of Isaac, causing him to go to Gerar (Gen. 26:1, 17). But the most remarkable of all was that which arose in Egypt in the days of Joseph, which lasted for seven years (Gen. 41-45). Famines were sent as an effect of God's anger against a guilty people (2 Kings 8:1, 2; Amos 8:11; Deut. 28:22-42; 2 Sam. 21:1; 2 Kings 6:25-28; 25:3; Jer. 14:15; 19:9; 42:17, etc.). A famine was predicted by Agabus (Acts 11:28). Josephus makes mention of the famine which occurred A.D. 45. Helena, queen of Adiabene, being at Jerusalem at that time, procured corn from Alexandria and figs from Cyprus for its poor inhabitants.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

famine

see feast or famine.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see famine on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way