extremely hungry; "they were tired and famished for food and sleep"; "a ravenous boy"; "the family was starved and ragged"; "fell into the esurient embrance of a predatory enemy"
[ 'stärv ] (verb.) 15th century. Middle English sterven to die, starve, from Old English steorfan to die; akin to Old High German sterban to die, Lithuanian starinti to stiffen; more at STARE.