PREYS
Verb
preys
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of prey
Anagrams
• Ypres, pyres, rypes, spyre
Source: Wiktionary
PREY
Prey, n. Etym: [OF. preie, F. proie, L. praeda, probably for
praeheda. See Prehensile, and cf. Depredate, Predatory.]
Definition: 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.] Etym:
[OF. preier, preer, L. praedari, fr. praeda. See Prey, n.]
Definition: 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition