famine

Noun
Synonyms: dearthshortage

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. an acute insufficiencySynonyms: dearthshortage
  2. a severe shortage of food (as through crop failure) resulting in violent hunger and starvation and death
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Famine \Fam"ine\, n. [F. famine, fr. L. fames hunger; cf. Gr. ????? want, need, Skr. h[=a]ni loss, lack, h[=a] to leave.] General scarcity of food; dearth; a want of provisions; destitution. "Worn with famine." --Milton. [1913 Webster]

There was a famine in the land. --Gen. xxvi. 1. [1913 Webster]

Famine fever (Med.), typhus fever. [1913 Webster]

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