devourv.
/dɪˈvaʊə/ (Formerly often with up.)
I. properly.absolute.a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iii. iii. 84 Brauely the figure of this Harpie, hast thou Perform'd (my Ariell) a grace it had deuouring . View more context for this quotation
1. To swallow or eat up voraciously, as a beast of prey; to make a prey of, to prey upon.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > by eating habits > [verb (transitive)] > prey on
devourc1315
to prey ona1500
raven1530
depredate1651
predate1941
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > eating by animals > feed on or forage for (of animals) [verb (transitive)] > prey upon
devourc1315
raven1530
quarry1628
c1315 Shoreham 29 He soffreth noȝt to be to-trede, And of bestes devoured.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xiii. 55 Of Babiloyne sall a nedder comme, þat sall deuoure all þe werld.
c1430 J. Lydgate Chichevache & Bycorne in R. Dodsley Sel. Coll. Old Plays XII. 334 Wherfor Bycorn this cruel beste will us devouren at the lest.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. vii. f. vii He..was of wylde bestes or woluys slayne or deuouryd.
1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Cade xxi Set aloft for vermine to deuower.
1588 A. King tr. P. Canisius Cathechisme or Schort Instr. Prayers 36 The dragon with his mouthe oppin reddy to deuoire ws.
1650 J. Trapp Clavis to Bible (Gen. vii. 2) 70 Like enough to devour up both men and beasts.
1722 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. ii. 120 Turned as a wolf to devour the lambs.
1869 Ld. Tennyson Coming of Arthur 27 And ever and anon the wolf would steal The children and devour.
2. Of human beings:
a. To eat greedily, eat up, consume or make away with, as food.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > processes or manners of eating > eat via specific process [verb (transitive)] > eat voraciously
forswallowOE
gulch?c1225
afretea1350
moucha1350
glop1362
gloup1362
forglut1393
worrya1400
globbec1400
forsling1481
slonk1481
franch1519
gull1530
to eat up1535
to swallow up1535
engorge1541
gulp1542
ramp1542
slosh1548
raven1557
slop1575
yolp1579
devour1586
to throw oneself on1592
paunch1599
tire1599
glut1600
batten1604
frample1606
gobbet1607
to make a (also one's) meal on (also upon)a1616
to make a (also one's) meal of1622
gorge1631
demolish1639
gourmanda1657
guttle1685
to gawp up1728
nyam1790
gamp1805
slummock1808
annihilate1815
gollop1823
punish1825
engulf1829
hog1836
scoff1846
brosier1850
to pack away1855
wolf1861
locust1868
wallop1892
guts1934
murder1935
woof1943
pelicana1953
pig1979
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Rev. x. 9 He seide to me, Take the book and deuoure it.
1480 W. Caxton Chron. Eng. ccxxxix. 265 Than they wente vnto the dukes place of lancastre..that was callyd the sauoy, and ther they deuoured and destroyed al the goodes.
1586 G. Pettie & B. Yong tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (rev. ed.) iv. f. 187 On Shroftuesdaie night I devoured so much, that ye next daie I had no stomacke to eate anie thing at all.
1833 H. Martineau Manch. Strike (new ed.) x. 110 To devour their meals hastily, as if their time were not their own.
1836 A. Combe Physiol. Digestion ii. ii. 229 We never eat more than enough. We never devour lobsters, or oysters, or salmon.
b. spec. To eat like a beast, to eat ravenously or barbarously.
ΚΠ
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 442 A great feeder, so that he seemed rather to deuoure his meat than to eat it.
1611 Bible (King James) Ecclus. xxxi. 16 Eate as it becommeth a man..and deuoure not, lest thou be hated. View more context for this quotation
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 30 The poor Creatures rather devour'd than eat it.
II. transferred. With consume as the main notion.
3. † c. To make a prey of, treat with rapine. Obsolete.† d. To despoil (a person) of (substance) by consuming it. Obsolete. rare.
a. Of a person or personal agent: To consume destructively, recklessly, or wantonly; to make away with, waste, destroy (substance, property or figurative its owners). Obsolete except in bibl. language.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > devour, engulf, or consume (of fire, water, etc.) > misery, God, death, etc. (of a person)
devoura1340
gravea1340
consumec1425
whelm1553
engulf1597
combust1619
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter Cant. 511 Him þat deuours þe pore in hidil.
1382 J. Wyclif Psalms xxxiv. 25 Ne sei thei, wee shal devouren hym.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke xv. 30 This thi sone, which deuouride his substaunce with hooris.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xvii. 280 Lightliche þat þei leue loseles hit deuouren.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 66 He wolde his holy blood honoure Thogh þt he holy chirche sholde deuoure.
c1460 J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (1885) iii. 115 The reaume of Englonde..wolde be than a pray to all oþer nacions þat wolde conqwer, robbe, and deuouir it.
1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. i. 46 If any one maintain not his Parents, let him be infamous, as likewise he that devours his patrimony.
1656 J. Smith Myst. Rhetorique Unvail'd 19 So we say of some Guardians, They have devoured the Orphans, intimating the Orphans' patrimony.
b. with the sense swallow up more or less present: cf. 5.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > wrapping > wrap [verb (transitive)] > enfold or envelop > in a surrounding medium > swallow up > immaterial things
devourc1384
deep1578
to swallow up1654
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Mark xii. 40 Scribis..whiche deuouren the housis of widewis.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. BBBviiv Ye..rape and deuoure the almes and sustenaunce of the pore seruauntes of god.
1602 J. Marston Hist. Antonio & Mellida i. sig. B3 She..Inticeth princes to deuour heauen, Swallow omnipotence, out-stare dread fate.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 10 Thou, Varlet, dost thy Master's gains devour.
1836 H. Smith Tin Trumpet I. 193 Wherever Religion has been the mother of Wealth the daughter has invariably devoured the parent.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > loss of chastity > deprive of chastity [verb (transitive)] > rape
to do (a) shamec1275
afforcec1330
beforcec1375
misusea1382
oppressa1382
enforcec1386
ravisha1387
forcea1400
betravaila1425
trespass1427
supprisea1450
violatec1450
viole?c1450
stuprate?1526
devour1530
stupre1548
constuprate1550
rape1574
suppress1590
harry1591
constrain1594
abripe1623
obstuprate1658
spoil1678
to rip off1967
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 515/1 He hath devoured twenty maydens and wyves agaynst their wylles in his dayes.
c1540 in Knox Hist. Ref. in Wks. (1846) I. 73 Seikand Christes peple to devoir.
1547 W. Salesbury Dict. Eng. & Welshe Teisio morwyn, devoure a mayden.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > robbery > spoliation or depredation > despoil or prey upon [verb (transitive)]
reaveOE
stripa1225
pill?c1225
robc1225
peela1250
despoil1297
raimc1300
spoilc1330
spoila1340
to pull a finch (also pigeon, plover, etc.)c1387
despoil1393
preya1400
spoila1400
spulyiea1400
unspoila1400
riflec1400
poll1490
to pill and poll1528
to poll and pill1528
exspoila1530
pilyie1539
devour?1542
plume1571
rive1572
bepill1574
fleece1575
to prey over1576
pread1577
disvaledge1598
despoliate1607
to make spoil of1613
expilate1624
to peel and poll1641
depredate1651
violatea1657
disvalise1672
to pick feathers off (a person)1677
to make stroy of1682
spoliate1699
pilfer1714
snabble1725
rump1815
vampire1832
sweat1847
ploat1855
vampirize1888
?1542 H. Brinkelow Complaynt Roderyck Mors iv. sig. B6 Let them make good defence, that their poore neyhbors..be not deuouryd of their corne and grasse.
4. Of inanimate agencies: To consume, destroy. Said esp. of fire, sword, pestilence, or other agencies which claim numerous victims.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > devour, engulf, or consume (of fire, water, etc.)
supeOE
eatc950
fretc1000
forthnimc1175
forfret?c1225
to-fret?c1225
swallowa1340
devourc1374
upsoup1382
consumea1398
bisweligha1400
founderc1400
absorb1490
to swallow up1531
upsupa1547
incinerate1555
upswallow1591
fire1592
absume1596
abyss1596
worm1604
depredate1626
to gulp downa1644
whelm1667
c1374 G. Chaucer Anelida & Arcite 14 This old story..That eild..hath nigh devoured oute of my memory.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Joel ii. 3 Before the face of hym fijr deuourynge, and after hym brenyng flawme.
1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 339 So that no life shall be socoured, But with the dedely swerd devoured.
a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 31 Etyn away dayly devouryd & consumyd by commyn syknes & dysease.
1579 S. Gosson Schoole of Abuse f. 22 Stir Iupiter to anger to send vs a Storke that shal deuoure vs.
1652 M. Nedham tr. J. Selden Of Dominion of Sea 266 The Earth did not bring forth its Fruits..but devoured very many people by famine.
1665 T. Herbert Some Years Trav. (new ed.) 210 But the Monument..is not now to be seen, for Time has devoured it.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xii. 183 Haile mixt with fire must rend th' Egyptian Skie And wheel on th' Earth, devouring where it rouls. View more context for this quotation
a1711 T. Ken Hymnotheo in Wks. (1721) III. 300 Their Beings no Corruption can devour, Annihilable by sole boundless Power.
1863 F. A. Kemble Jrnl. Resid. Georgian Plantation 69 The flames devouring the light growth.
1874 W. Stubbs Constit. Hist. I. iv. 61 Whom the sword spared famine and pestilence devoured.
III. With swallow as the main notion.
5. Of water, the earth, etc.: To swallow up, engulf.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > wrapping > wrap [verb (transitive)] > enfold or envelop > in a surrounding medium > swallow up
swallowc1175
to swallow up1526
devour1555
engulf1555
abyss1596
involve1605
flapdragona1616
to suck upa1616
ingurgitatea1620
absorbeate1623
exorbeate1623
entomba1631
gulf1807
begulf1809
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde iii. i. f. 92 He had seene many Culchas deuoured of whirlepoles.
1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream i. i. 148 The iawes of darkenesse do deuoure it vp. View more context for this quotation
1602 J. Marston Antonios Reuenge iv. iv. sig. H4 The very Ouze, The quick sand that deuours all miserie.
1614 W. Raleigh Hist. World i. iv. i. §4. 163 Those that tooke the Sea, were therein deuoured ere they recouered them.
1783 G. Crabbe Village i. 9 The ocean roar, Whose greedy waves devour the lessening shore.
6. Of persons:
a. To take in greedily and with eagerness the sense of (a book, discourse, or the like).
ΘΚΠ
society > education > learning > [verb (transitive)] > assimilate ideas
drinka1400
imbibe1555
to eat up1573
devour1581
assimilatea1631
to suck ina1640
absorb1840
1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) ii. 63 They have devoured all sortes of bookes.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) i. iii. 149 Shee'd come againe, and with a greedy eare Deuoure vp my discourse. View more context for this quotation
1647 J. Trapp Comm. Epist. & Rev. 530 Ministers must so devour and digest the holy Scriptures, that [etc.].
1753 A. Murphy Gray's Inn Jrnl. No. 40. ⁋2 Miss Vainlove devoured up these Expressions of Admiration with a greedy Ear.
1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward I. Introd. p. xxxi He devoured the story, of the work with which he was engaged.
1850 C. Kingsley Alton Locke I. i. 14 Missionary tracts..How I devoured them.
1855 D. Brewster Mem. Life I. Newton (new ed.) I. i. 15 Devouring some favourite author.
1878 R. H. Hutton Scott ii. 19 He learned Spanish and devoured Cervantes.
b. To take in eagerly with the eyes; to look upon with avidity.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (transitive)] > stare or gaze at
bestarec1220
bigapea1250
to gape atc1290
fix14..
to stick one's eyes in (also into)c1485
attacha1500
porec1500
to take feeding (of)c1500
stare1510
(to have) in gaze1577
gaze1591
outstare1596
over-stare1600
devour1628
trysta1694
ogle1795
begaze1802
toise1888
fixate1889
rubberneck1897
eyeball1901
1628 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (ed. 3) iii. ii. iii. 466 Drinke to him with her eyes, nay drinke him vp, deuoure him, swallow him as Martiall's Mamurra is remembred to haue done.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 90 Early Visitants, With eager Eyes devouring..The breathing Figures of Corinthian Brass. View more context for this quotation
1718 M. Prior Solomon on Vanity ii, in Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) 445 With an unguarded look she now devour'd My nearer face.
1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. III 57 His eyes devoured her loveliness.
1891 I. Zangwill Bachelor's Club 186 The Doctor devoured her with his eyes.
c. To absorb greedily or selfishly.
ΚΠ
1647 C. Cotterell & W. Aylesbury tr. E. C. Davila Hist. Civill Warres France i. 21 The house of Guise, which in a manner devoured all the chief employments of the kingdom.
d. To swallow or suppress within one's own breast (chagrin, grief, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > self-possession or self-control > control oneself or the emotions [verb (transitive)]
govern1340
sober1390
obtempera1492
refrain?1521
control1568
obtemperate1575
command1586
smother1594
subject1620
controla1627
possess1643
reduce1643
devour1650
stiflea1683
to wrestle down1808
1650 J. Trapp Clavis to Bible (Gen. xxxii. 26) 262 To persevere in prayer, and to devour all discouragements.
1820 W. Scott Abbot III. xi. 345 Catherine Seyton devoured in secret her own grief.
1847 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Peru II. iii. ix. 17 Devouring his chagrin, as he best could.
7. Of things:
a. To occupy (a person) so as to engross the attention; to absorb.(Sometimes including the notion of consuming ( 4) or of swallowing up ( 5).)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > attracting attention > engage the attention [verb (transitive)] > hold attention, absorb
swallowc1330
deepc1380
dare1547
suspend1561
preoccupy1567
devour1568
to swallow up1581
enwrap1589
invest1601
steep1603
to take up1603
spell1646
possess1653
enchain1658
engross1661
absorb1749
fix1752
rivet1762
fascinate1782
spell-bind1808
arrest1814
mesmerize1862
to turn on1903
get1913
consume1999
1568 (?a1513) W. Dunbar in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1928) II. 147 Devorit with dreme, devysing in my slummer.
1609 W. Shakespeare Pericles xviii. 25 Pericles in sorrowe all deuour'd, With sighes shot through, and biggest teares ore-showr'd. Leaues Tharsus, and againe imbarques.
1720 A. Pope Verses Addison's Medals in Wks. 35 Poor Vadius, long with learned spleen devour'd, Can taste no pleasure since his Shield was scour'd.
1863 M. Oliphant Salem Chapel II. xxi. 25 She walked home with Beecher, devoured by feverish hopes and fears.
1865 M. Arnold Ess. Crit. ii. 67 Not to hold ideas of this kind a little more easily, to be so devoured by them, to suffer them to become crotchets.
b. To absorb so as to do away with.
ΚΠ
1625 E. Tilman Let. 1 Apr. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. III. 244 The joy of the people devoured their mourning.
1875 A. Helps On Pract. Wisdom in Ess. 5 The large hands and feet of a dwarf seem to have devoured his stature.
8. Phrases.† a. to devour difficulties [French dévorer les difficultés] : to tackle and overcome difficulties with spirit. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 128 She will hold close to her own tacklings and devour a great deale of difficulty.
1656 R. Sanderson 20 Serm. 321 He that setteth forth for the goal, if he will obtain, must resolve to devour all difficulties, and to run it out.
b. to devour the way, course, etc. [French dévorer l'espace] ; to get over the ground with great rapidity.
ΚΠ
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 i. i. 47 He seem'd in running to deuoure the way, Staying no longer question. View more context for this quotation
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Suff. 72 Wat Tyler..was woundly angry with Sir John Newton Knight..for devouring his distance, and not making his approaches mannerly enough unto him.
1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey II. viii. 102 None..swifter in the race devour the way.
1772 S. Pegge tr. W. Fitzstephen Descr. London 38 The signal once given, they [the horses] strike, devour the course [L. cursum rapiunt], hurrying along with unremitting velocity.
1883 ‘Holme Lee’ Loving & Serving II. xiii. 271 The strong black horse was very fresh, and devoured the road before him.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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