Lewis & Short

fămes, is (ante- and post-class. 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).

  1. 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, id. 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.
    1. B. Transf.
      1. 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. * 2. In gen., poverty, indigence: aliquem ad famem reicere, Ter. Phorm. prol. 19.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. 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.
    2. * B. Of speech, poverty of expression: jejunitatem et famem malle quam ubertatem et copiam, Cic. Tusc. 2, 1, 3.
    3. C. Personified: Fames, as a goddess, Verg. A. 6, 276; Ov. M. 8, 784; 785 et saep.