λιμός
Lemma: λιμός
Translation: famine; hunger; starvation (noun)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek λιμός (limós). Related to Latin 'limus' (hunger). No direct English cognates, but appears in scientific terms like 'limoktonia' (death by starvation)
Mnemonics
- Think of 'lean' in English - when there's a famine, people become very lean
- Similar to 'liminal' - being at the threshold between life and death due to extreme hunger
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Often used in historical contexts, particularly regarding periods of war or natural disasters. The Great Famine of 1941-1942 during the German occupation of Greece is a significant historical reference point.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: λιμός means 'famine' while λοιμός means 'plague/pestilence'
Confused word:
Ο λοιμός σκότωσε χιλιάδες
The plague killed thousands
Notes: These words often appear together in historical texts describing disasters
Mnemonic: λιμός (famine) has an 'i' like 'inanition' (starvation), while λοιμός (plague) has 'oi' like 'poison'