Suffered extreme hunger or died from lack of food; to deprive someone of something they need.
From Old English 'steorfan' meaning to die or perish. Originally meant any kind of dying, but came to specifically mean dying of hunger.
The word 'starved' used to be more general—you could be 'starved' of warmth or affection—which shows how humans metaphorically extend survival needs like food to emotional and psychological needs.
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