About The Word Prey

Bay Area Crosswords

Learn about the word Prey to help solve your crossword puzzle. Discover Prey definitions and meaning, origins, synonyms, related terms and more at the free Crossword Dictionary.

Prey

Prey Meaning & Definition
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.

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