Prey Definition & Meaning | Bay Area Crosswords

About The Word Prey

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Prey

Prey Definition And Meaning
What's The Definition Of Prey? [n] animal hunted or caught for food [n] a person who is the victim of ridicule or exploitation by some hostile person or influence; "he fell prey to muggers"; "everyone was fair game" [v] prey on or hunt for; "These mammals predate certain eggs" [v] profit from in an exploitatory manner; "He feeds on her insecurity" Synonyms \| Synonyms for Prey: fair game \| feed \| predate \| quarry \| quarry \| raven \| target Related Terms \| Find terms related to Prey: See Also \| animal \| animate being \| beast \| brute \| creature \| exploit \| fauna \| forage \| victim \| work Prey In Webster's Dictionary \Prey\, n. [OF. preie, F. proie, L. praeda, probably for praeheda. See {Prehensile}, and cf. {Depredate}, {Predatory}.] Anything, as goods, etc., taken or got by violence; anything taken by force from an enemy in war; spoil; booty; plunder. And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest. --Num. xxxi. 12. 2. That which is or may be seized by animals or birds to be devoured; hence, a person given up as a victim. The old lion perisheth for lack of prey. --Job iv. ii. Already sees herself the monster's prey. --Dryden. 3. The act of devouring other creatures; ravage. Hog in sloth, fox in stealth, . . . lion in prey. --Shak. {Beast of prey}, a carnivorous animal; one that feeds on the flesh of other animals. \Prey\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Preyed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Preying}.] [OF. preier, preer, L. praedari, fr. praeda. See {Prey}, n.] To take booty; to gather spoil; to ravage; to take food by violence. More pity that the eagle should be mewed, While kites and buzzards prey at liberty. --Shak. {To prey on} or {upon}. (a) To take prey from; to despoil; to pillage; to rob. --Shak. (b) To seize as prey; to take for food by violence; to seize and devour. --Shak. (c) To wear away gradually; to cause to waste or pine away; as, the trouble preyed upon his mind. --Addison.

Prey Definition And Meaning

What's The Definition Of Prey?

[n] animal hunted or caught for food
[n] a person who is the victim of ridicule or exploitation by some hostile person or influence; "he fell prey to muggers"; "everyone was fair game"
[v] prey on or hunt for; "These mammals predate certain eggs"
[v] profit from in an exploitatory manner; "He feeds on her insecurity"

Related Terms | Find terms related to Prey:

Prey In Webster's Dictionary

\Prey\, n. [OF. preie, F. proie, L. praeda, probably for
praeheda. See {Prehensile}, and cf. {Depredate},
{Predatory}.]
Anything, as goods, etc., taken or got by violence; anything
taken by force from an enemy in war; spoil; booty; plunder.

      And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the
      spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest. --Num. xxxi.
                                               12.

2. That which is or may be seized by animals or birds to be
   devoured; hence, a person given up as a victim.

         The old lion perisheth for lack of prey. --Job iv.
                                               ii.

         Already sees herself the monster's prey. --Dryden.

3. The act of devouring other creatures; ravage.

         Hog in sloth, fox in stealth, . . . lion in prey.
                                               --Shak.

{Beast of prey}, a carnivorous animal; one that feeds on the
   flesh of other animals.


\Prey\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Preyed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Preying}.] [OF. preier, preer, L. praedari, fr. praeda. See
{Prey}, n.]
To take booty; to gather spoil; to ravage; to take food by
violence.

      More pity that the eagle should be mewed, While kites
      and buzzards prey at liberty.            --Shak.

{To prey on} or {upon}.
(a) To take prey from; to despoil; to pillage; to rob.
    --Shak.
(b) To seize as prey; to take for food by violence; to seize
    and devour. --Shak.
(c) To wear away gradually; to cause to waste or pine away;
    as, the trouble preyed upon his mind. --Addison.

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