Preying

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Prey \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.
     [1913 Webster]


  
           More pity that the eagle should be mewed,
           While kites and buzzards prey at liberty. --Shak.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {To prey on} or {To prey 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.
         [1913 Webster]