ppl. a., arch. [perh. representing a lost OE. a-hyngred (cf. Germ. erhungert), or a later formation with A- pref. 1 intensive; but more probably a later form of OF-HUNGRED, OE. of-hyngred, pa. pple. of vb. of-hyngran to suffer hunger, be weak with hunger, be very hungry. Cf. AFINGERED. By confusion of A-2 and A-3, the prefix was sometimes expanded to an-, on-; cf. A-HIGH, AN-HUNGERED.] Oppressed with hunger; very hungry.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. X. 59. Bothe afyngred [v.r. a-hungred, an-hungred] and a-thurst [v.r. a-thrust, a-thrist, a-furst], and for chele quake.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XII. xxv. (1495), 429. Alwaye he is a hungryd whyle he liuyth.
1567. Jewel, Def. Apol., 225 (R.). When their eies were ful, they put vp theire kniues, and rose ahungred.
1820. Keats, Hyperion, II. 163. Saturn’s ear Is all a-hunger’d.
1868. Geo. Eliot, Sp. Gypsy, II. 194. Soothe the frightened bird And feed the child a-hungered.
