Where does the word famine originate?

The word "famine" comes from the Old French word "famine", which itself likely originated from the Latin word "fames" meaning "hunger".

The Latin word "fames" is related to the verb "famere" which meant "to be hungry". This suggests that the word "famine" ultimately traces back to the ancient Romans and their concept of hunger.

Interestingly, the word "famine" has been used in English since the 14th century, suggesting that it was a concept that was well understood in Europe even in that era.