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
Prey, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Preying.] Etym:
[OF. preier, preer, L. praedari, fr. praeda. See Prey, n.]
Defn: 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.
PREYER
Prey"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, preys; a plunderer; a waster; a devourer. Hooker.
PREYFUL
Prey"ful, a.
1. Disposed to take prey. [Obs.] The preyful brood of savage beasts. Chapman.
2. Rich in prey. [Obs.] Shak.
PREZYGAPOPHYSIS Pre*zyg`a*poph"y*sis, n.; pl. Prezygapophyses. Etym: [NL. See Pre-, and Zygapophysis.] (Anat.)