privation

W. Somerset Maughamの "The Moon and Sixpence" を読んでいます。 'XXI' と 'XXVIII' の章から引用します。

I learned that for six months he had lived on a loaf of bread and a bottle of milk a day. He was a sensual man, and yet was indifferent to sensual things. He looked upon privation as no hardship. There was something impressive in the manner in which he lived a life wholly of the spirit.
...
'You'll suffer the most awful privations. You know why he took so long to get well. He was half starved.'

２番目に出て来た個所まで読むと "privations" は食べる物が無く、困る状態だと推測できます。辞書で確認します。

・Oxford English Dictionary: a lack of the basic things that people need for living: They endured years of suffering and privation.
・Collins Dictionary: If you suffer privation or privations, you have to live without many of the things that are thought to be necessary in life, such as food, clothing, or comfort.: They endured five years of privation during the Second World War.
・Cambridge English Dictionary: a lack of the basic things that are necessary for an acceptable standard of living: Economic privation is pushing the poor towards crime.

欠乏しているのは食料だけではありませんでした。