Beast of prey

Beast of prey
Prey 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. [1913 Webster]

And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest. --Num. xxxi. 12. [1913 Webster]

2. That which is or may be seized by animals or birds to be devoured; hence, a person given up as a victim. [1913 Webster]

The old lion perisheth for lack of prey. --Job iv. ii. [1913 Webster]

Already sees herself the monster's prey. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

3. The act of devouring other creatures; ravage. [1913 Webster]

Hog in sloth, fox in stealth, . . . lion in prey. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{Beast of prey}, a carnivorous animal; one that feeds on the flesh of other animals. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • beast of prey — n. any animal that kills other animals for food …   English World dictionary

  • beast of prey — a carnivorous animal * * * a predatory mammal. * * * beast of prey noun One that devours other animals, esp higher animals, applied usu to the Carnivora • • • Main Entry: ↑beast beast of prey and bird of prey see under ↑beast and ↑bird… …   Useful english dictionary

  • beast of prey — a predatory mammal. * * * …   Universalium

  • beast of prey — noun A carnivorous animal that hunts for its food, especially one that preys on vertebrates …   Wiktionary

  • beast of prey — animal which hunts other animals for food …   English contemporary dictionary

  • beast of prey — noun an animal, especially a mammal, that kills and eats other animals …   English new terms dictionary

  • Prey — 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. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • beast — n. 1 an animal other than a human being, esp. a wild quadruped. 2 a a brutal person. b colloq. an objectionable or unpleasant person or thing (he s a beast for not inviting her; a beast of a problem). 3 (prec. by the) a human being s brutish or… …   Useful english dictionary

  • prey — prey1 [preı] n [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: preie, from Latin praeda something seized ] 1.) [singular,U] an animal, bird etc that is hunted and eaten by another animal = ↑predator ▪ a tiger stalking its prey 2.) bird/beast of prey a… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • prey — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ easy ▪ Teenagers are easy prey for unscrupulous drug dealers. ▪ helpless (esp. AmE), unsuspecting ▪ They watched a hawk swoop down on its unsuspecting prey …   Collocations dictionary

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