1778, hybrid noun of action from starve. Famously (but not certainly) introduced in English by Henry Dundas during debate in the House of Commons in 1775 on American affairs. It earned him the nickname "Starvation Dundas," though sources disagree on whether this was given in objection to the harshness of his suggestion of starving the rebels into submission or in derision at the barbarous formation of the word. It is one of the earliest instances of -ation used with a native Germanic word (flirtation is earlier).
As to Lord Chatham, the victories, conquests, extension of our empire within these last five years, will annihilate his fame of course, and he may be replaced by Starvation Dundas, whose pious policy suggested that the devil of rebellion could be expelled only by fasting, though that never drove him out of Scotland. [Horace Walpole, letter to the Rev. William Mason, April 25, 1781]
实用例句
1. 1.5 million people are in immediate danger of death from starvation.
150万人正面临着被饿死的急迫危险。
来自柯林斯例句
2. An estimated seven million people are at risk of starvation.
估计有700万人面临着饿死的危险。
来自柯林斯例句
3. I was suffering from acute sunstroke, starvation and exhaustion.
我严重中暑，又饿又累。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Drought has left more than two million people close to starvation.
干旱让两百多万人濒临饿死。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Many people die of starvation during famines every year.
