prey

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: quarrytargetfair gamefeedravenpredate

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence“he fell prey to muggers”“everyone was fair game”“the target of a manhunt”Synonyms: quarrytargetfair game
  2. animal hunted or caught for foodSynonyms: quarry

Verb (2)

  1. profit from in an exploitatory manner“He feeds on her insecurity”Synonyms: feed
  2. prey on or hunt for“These mammals predate certain eggs”Synonyms: ravenpredate
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Webster's Dictionary (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]

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]

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