| 释义 |
ravenous, a.|ˈræv(ə)nəs|
Forms: 5 rav-, rauynous, ravenus, 5–7 rauenous, -ouse, (7 Sc. -ows), 5– ravenous; 6 rauynys, Sc. rawynnis.
[a. OF. ravineux, -os, -ous, etc. (see Godef.):—pop.L. *rapīnōsus: see rapine, ravin1, and -ous.]
1. Addicted to plundering or taking by force; extremely rapacious. (Sometimes transf. from 2.)
1412–20Lydg. Chron. Troy iv. xxxv, There is no degre Gredyer nor more rauynous Than priestes be. 1538Starkey England i. iv. 127 Spoylyd of the rauynys and pollyng offycerys. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 269 The hors⁓men of Hungary are commonly called Hussares, an exceadyng ravenous and cruell kynde of men. 1601B. Jonson Poetaster v. i, Thus oft, the base and ravenous multitude Survive, to share the spoils of fortitude. 1725De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 183 Nations who were ravenous and mischievous, treacherous and fierce. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. xiv. III. 424 A crowd of negligent or ravenous functionaries..plundered, starved, and poisoned the armies and fleets of William.
2. Of animals: Given to seizing in order to devour; voracious, gluttonous. Hence of appetite, hunger, etc. (Freq. in fig. context.)
c1430Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 159 Thus by a maner of simylitude, Tirauntys [are] lyknyd to beestis ravynous. 1496Fysshynge w. Angle (1883) 30 The menow..is a rauenous biter & an egre. 1522More De quat. Noviss. Wks. 95 The rauenous appetite of dilicate meate & drink. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. xi. 12 Dead was it sure..What ever thing does touch his ravenous pawes. 1667Milton P.L. x. 991 Death shall..with us two Be forc'd to satisfie his Rav'nous Maw. 1719De Foe Crusoe i. xx. 353 The ravenous Creatures..were come down into the Forest and plain Country, press'd by Hunger to seek for Food. 1835W. Irving Tour Prairies 157 The black wolves, in their ravenous hunger and fury, took no notice of the distant group of horsemen. a1859Macaulay Hist. Eng. xxiii. V. 21 He rushed with ravenous eagerness at every bait which was offered to his cupidity.
transf.1598Shakes. Merch. V. iv. i. 138 Thy desires Are Woluish, bloody, steru'd, and rauenous. c1614Sir W. Mure Dido & æneas i. 227 Let louse the winds, thy rav'nows postes imploy, Disperse their navie, and themselves destroy. a1845Hood Last Man xxxii, Their jaws all white with foam Like the ravenous ocean brim.
b. Const. of.
a1614Donne βιαθανατος (1644) 65 For that age was growne so hungry and ravenous of it, that many were baptized onely because they would be burnt. 1856Kane Arct. Expl. II. i. 13 They [dogs] are absolutely ravenous of every thing below the human grade. 1882Blunt Ref. Ch. Eng. II. 23 That full exercise of power of which he was ever so ravenous in all ecclesiastical matters.
3. Excessively hungry.
1719De Foe Crusoe ii. viii. (1840) 184, I got up ravenous. 1877Black Green Past. xlii. (1878) 337 Handsome girls who waited on the crowd of ravenous people.
†4. = ravening ppl. a. 2. Obs. rare.
1607[see ravening ppl. a. 2]. 1624Quarles Job xviii. 73 Then how dare Thy ravenous lips thus, thus at randome runne, And counter-maund what I the Lord have done? |