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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Hard to conceive this word's transitivity nature
Hi. I think the word "famished" is transitive, meaning it takes an object, but it is hard to conceive how it could take an action and have an object.
I think I hear the expression "I am famished" often.
I think I hear the expression "I am famished" often.
Top answer
Transitive / intransitive applies only to verbs. There is a verb "famish" meaning "to cause to starve to death, or to punish by starvation," but it is archaic, not used in modern English. " Today we use the word "starve" for the same meaning.
- Transitive / intransitive applies only to verbs.
- There is a verb "famish" meaning "to cause to starve to death, or to punish by starvation," but it is archaic, not used in modern English.
- " Today we use the word "starve" for the same meaning.
- The word famish endures in modern English only as an adjective, famished , meaning "extremely hungry"
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1 Answers
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Transitive / intransitive applies only to verbs. There is a verb "famish" meaning "to cause to starve to death, or to punish by starvation," but it is archaic, not used in modern English. A few hundred years ago, you could say "They famish their enemies." Today we use the word "starve" for the same meaning.
The word famish endures in modern English only as an adjective, famis
The word famish endures in modern English only as an adjective, famis
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