v. t. 1. To destroy with cold. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ] From beds of raging fire, to starve in ice Their soft ethereal warmth. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To kill with hunger; as, maliciously to starve a man is, in law, murder. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. To distress or subdue by famine; as, to starve a garrison into a surrender. [ 1913 Webster ] Attalus endeavored to starve Italy by stopping their convoy of provisions from Africa. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. To destroy by want of any kind; as, to starve plants by depriving them of proper light and air. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. To deprive of force or vigor; to disable. [ 1913 Webster ] The pens of historians, writing thereof, seemed starved for matter in an age so fruitful of memorable actions. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ] The powers of their minds are starved by disuse. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ] |