I.nom. sing.: “famis,” Varr. R. R. 2, 5, 15; Prud. Psych. 479; gen.: fami, Cato and Lucil. ap. Gell. 9, 14, 10; abl., scanned fămē, Lucr. 3, 732; Verg. A. 6, 421; Ov. M. 5, 165; 8, 846; 11, 370 al.) f. root gha-; Sanscr. gahami, to leave, abandon; Gr. χάτις, χῆτος, want; χῆρος, deprived of, hunger (syn.: inedia, jejunium, esuries, esuritio).
I. Lit.: “interficere aliquem siti fameque atque algu,” Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 36; id. Rud. 2, 2, 7; cf.: “cum cibo et potione fames sitisque depulsa est,” Cic. Fin. 1, 11, 37: “cibi condimentum esse famem, potionis sitim,” id. ib. 2, 28, 90: “bestiae fame monitae,” id. Clu. 25, 67: “fame atque inopia rerum omnium confecti,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 51, § 134; “(avis) fame enecta,” starved to death, id. Div. 2, 35, 73; cf.: “plebem fame necare,” id. Q. Fr. 2, 3, 2: “patientia famis,” id. Cat. 1, 10, 26: famem explere, to satiate, id. pro Dom. 23: “tolerare,” Caes. B. G. 1, 28, 3: “extremam famem sustentare,” id. ib. 7, 17, 3: “duram propellere,” Hor. S. 1, 2, 6; cf.: “pellere querna glande,” Tib. 2, 1, 38: “propulsare,” Col. 2, 10, 1; Tac. A. 14, 24: “deponere,” Ov. F. 6, 530: “levare,” to assuage, id. H. 14, 96: “vincere sacris extis,” Val. Fl. 2, 347 et saep.: “in principio fame utendum,” the patient must fast, Cels. 8, 10, 7; cf.: “primis diebus fames, deinde liberalius alimentum,” id. ib.—Prov.: “ambitiosa non est fames,” is not nice, Sen. Ep. 119, 14: “malum panem tibi tenerum et siligineum fames reddet,” id. ib. 123, 2.—
B. Transf.
1. Famine, dearth (rare in class. Lat.): “fames, quae tum erat in hac mea Asia: messis enim nulla fuerat,” Cic. Att. 5, 21, 8: “fames esse coepit,” Curt. 10, 8: “in fame frumentum exportare,” Cic. Fl. 7, 17; Vulg. Ruth, 1, 1; id. Matt. 24, 7 et saep.— *
2. In gen., poverty, indigence: “aliquem ad famem reicere,” Ter. Phorm. prol. 19.
II. Trop.
A. Like sitis, a violent longing for any thing, greediness, greed, avidity (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): “quid non mortalia pectora cogis, Auri sacra fames!” Verg. A. 3, 57; so, “auri fames,” Plin. 33, 4, 21, § 72; cf.: “argenti sitis importuna famesque,” Hor. Ep. 1, 18, 23; Plin. 33, 1, 3, § 6; cf.: “auri fames durissima est,” id. 33, 4, 21, § 72: “ex longa fame satiaret se auro,” Curt. 5, 1, 4: “crescentem sequitur cura pecuniam Majorumque fames,” Hor. C. 3, 16, 17: “honorum Marii fames,” Flor. 3, 21, 6.—*
B. Of speech, poverty of expression: “jejunitatem et famem malle quam ubertatem et copiam,” Cic. Tusc. 2, 1, 3.—
