About The Word Prey
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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
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Prey Definition And Meaning |
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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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