释义 |
preyn.Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French prai, praie. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman prai, praie, pray, prei, preie, preihe, preye and Old French praie, preie, also Old French, Middle French proie, Middle French proye (French proie ) living being which an animal seizes in order to devour it (early 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman), act of pillaging (early 12th cent.), flock, herd (first half of the 12th cent.), war booty (mid 12th cent.), food, provisions (late 12th cent. in an apparently isolated attestation as proie ), person seized, pursued, or desired by another person (beginning of the 13th cent.), property (beginning of the 13th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman), hunt (second half of the 13th cent.), anything which has been seized (late 14th cent.) < classical Latin praeda prede n., in post-classical Latin also flock, herd (11th cent.). Compare Old Occitan presa , preza (both first half of the 12th cent.; Occitan presa ), prea (13th cent.; rare), Catalan presa (late 13th cent.), Spanish †prea (second half of the 13th cent.; the usual word for ‘prey’ is presa prise n.2), Italian preda (end of the 13th cent.). Compare prede n.With the figurative uses in sense 2a compare Middle French, French en proie de (1587 in en proye du vice ). With in prey to at sense 3a compare Middle French, French en proie à (1560 in Middle French; now used figuratively). In the biblical use at sense 3b translating Hebrew šālāl spoil. With bird of prey at sense 4a compare Old French oiseaus de praie (plural), Middle French oisel de proie , French oiseau de proie (late 13th cent. in Old French). With beast of prey at sense 4a compare Old French, Middle French beste de proie (late 13th cent. in Old French; French bête de proie ). In sense 5 (which is apparently not paralleled in French or Latin) probably a transferred use of the French or Latin word in sense ‘flock, herd’. I. A person who or thing which is hunted, pursued, or plundered. 1. the world > animals > animals hunted > [noun] the world > food and drink > hunting > thing hunted or game > [noun] the world > food and drink > hunting > thing hunted or game > [noun] > prey of animals the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > [noun] > attack by some hostile or injurious agency > one who falls into power of hostile agent a1250 Wohunge ure Lauerd in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 273 Þu band ta helle dogges, and reftes ham hare praie. a1325 St. Giles (Corpus Cambr. 145) 78 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill (1956) 387 Þe honten com hom wiþoute preie, for noþing necaȝte hi þer. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) vii. 4945 (MED) The Tigre his time awaiteth In hope forto cacche his preie. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 4216 (MED) Of him has beistes made þair prai. 1481 W. Caxton tr. ii. xvi. 102 The goshawke and sperhawk taken their prayes by the ryuers. a1500 (Gloucester) (1971) 775 (MED) As ofte as he scholde goo to þe batell or ouȝte of þe Cyte to take his praye, The bell schold be rong. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach iv. f. 169 So fall they many times out, and become a pray to vermine. 1608 E. Topsell 132 The Crocodiles..run vp and downe to seeke preyes to satisfie their hunger. 1680 H. More 83 Their teeth..were very dispatchfull of their prey. 1751 S. Johnson No. 153. ⁋12 The hungry family flew like vultures on their prey. 1796 R. Southey x. 377 Went like eaglets to the prey. 1854 J. H. Newman ii. i. 91 Down they came one after another, like wolves after their prey. 1899 F. V. Kirby 321 The serval is a tireless hunter, and runs down its prey. 1941 W. S. Bristowe II. v. 230 Some of these hunting spiders seek their prey by day and others by night. 1994 Nov. 47/1 Its prey ranges in size from insects to the piglet of a warthog. 2004 Jan. 66/2 It certainly does take advantage of temporary, local food gluts, taking prey such as house crickets. the world > food and drink > food > [noun] a1382 (Bodl. 959) Prov. xxxi. 15 Fro þe nyȝt she ros & ȝaf prey [L. praedam; a1425 L.V. in Ebreu it is liyflode] to hir homly men. 1683 41 [They] satisfied their Hunger with any sort of Prey, as Venison, Natural Fruits, and Milk, and many times with Roots and Barks of Trees. 1829 4 We now get Sturgeon enough for daily prey. 1860 R. Kennicott Jrnl. in J. A. James (1942) 75 The prospect was that there would be famine at the fort... Those remaining were put upon ‘half prey’. 2. Chiefly in singular. Frequently in phrases, as fall (a) prey, make a prey. α. a1300 in C. Brown (1932) 124 At min endin-day þe warlais þai wil be her fort take þair pray. a1382 (Bodl. 959) Judith ix.3 Þou ȝeue þe wymmen of þem in to prey, þe doȝtris of þem in to caitifte. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) ii. 269 (MED) Opon þe þrid day, at a toun hamelet, Thomas was his pray, as he to mete was set. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer (Hunterian) 5143 Unto Love I was so thrall, Which callith overall his pray. c1450 in F. J. Furnivall (1867) 14 (MED) Lete me not be þe feendis pray. a1500 (Harl. 149) (1974) 108 (MED) Than seyd the prynce of helle..‘Let vs stonde styfly ageyn that we be not takyn wyth the prey that we haue.’ 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane f. cccxxxj The Emperour setteth forth against them new proclamations, and maketh them a praye vnto all men. 1632 W. Lithgow ii. 74 Her matrones became a prey and prise to euery Rauisher. 1681 H. More Pref. p. lxxviii Like to make us a prey to the common enemy. 1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in I. xii. 138 The host Should self-abandon'd fall an easy prey. a1797 E. Burke Ess. Abridgm. Eng. Hist. (rev. ed.) in (1812) V. 674 Jerusalem fell an easy prey to his arms. 1849 T. B. Macaulay II. vii. 194 A man who had hitherto been the prey of gamesters. 1894 J. N. Maskelyne iv. 72 [He] falls an easy prey to the sharper. 1954 G. D. H. Cole II. xiii. 362 Communities breaking new ground were in constant danger of becoming the prey of fraudulent financiers and bankers. 1992 L. Gordon i. 5 I was shocked by the lunges of a man in a taxi. Unprotected by family, you were prey. β. 1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville (Caxton) (1859) 78 The chyuetayns..yeuen weye to their enemyes and made the peple proye to them.1600 J. Hamilton 403 The caluinian Ministers defraudis al seik personnes..that thay may be a mair easie proye and acceptable buttin to Sathan.a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) ii. i. 210 I banish her my Bed, and Companie, And giue her as a Prey to Law and Shame. View more context for this quotation 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil 121 The slow creeping Evil eats his way, Consumes the parching Limbs; and makes the Life his prey . View more context for this quotation 1741 I. Watts i. i. 26 Given up a Prey to a thousand Prejudices. 1770 O. Goldsmith 51 Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates, and men decay. 1819 W. Scott I. vii. 130 His subjects..were..a prey to every species of subaltern oppression. 1865 C. Dickens II. iii. iv. 27 An unresisting prey to that inscrutable toothache. 1918 E. Pound 43 My soul's antennæ are prey to such perturbations. 1947 P. Larkin Let. 14 Sept. in (1992) 140 My sister is..a prey to every bugaboo that ever afflicted a nursing mother, from infantile paralysis downwards. 2003 May 113/1 Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools..warned that the teaching of history was increasingly falling prey to ‘Hitlerisation’. †3. the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > stolen goods > [noun] > spoil or plunder > taken in war or raid α. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 4028 Ðis leun sal..Lond canaan al preige bi-geten. ?c1335 in W. Heuser (1904) 134 (MED) Of his deþ ne telliþ hi noȝt, Bot of har prei hi hab som. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Macc. i. 33 He toke prayes of the citee [a1425 L.V. preies; L. spolia], and brente it with fijr. ?c1430 (c1400) J. Wyclif (1880) 123 (MED) Þei feynen hem dede to gete pray of worldly lordischipis & richesse. a1450 (Univ. Coll. Oxf.) (1912) 2748 (MED) They come with grete pryde And take grete pray on euery syde. a1500 (?c1450) 125 (MED) Kynge claudas was putt to flight, and loste all his harneyse and his praye. 1580 in D. Masson (1880) 1st Ser. III. 308 Exponand..the saidis compliners guidis.., in prey to the enemy. 1641 Declar. to Chas. I in J. Rushworth (1692) I. 529 The Prey, or Booty which they take from the English, they mark with the Queen's mark. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil 114 Thy faithful Dogs..hold at Bay, The Mountain Robbers, rushing to the Prey . View more context for this quotation β. 1481 W. Caxton tr. (1893) ccxii. 310 There gadred he many grete proyes, that is to wete, horses, beufes, Kyen and sheep, And ryche prysonners.1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan iii. xi. 191 Where as byfore he was a powere knyght he was becom ryche by the proyes that he had goten and taken.1552 R. Huloet Proye, praye, and spoyle.α. c1400 (?c1380) 439 (MED) Fele here porchasez and fongez pray. a1425 (c1395) (Royal) (1850) Jer. xxi. 9 He that goith out..schal lyue, and his lijf schal be as a prey [a1382 E.V. spoile] to hym. 1535 M. Coverdale xxi. 9 He shal saue his life, and shall wynne his soule for a pray. 1611 Jer. xxxviii. 2 He shall have his life for a prey, and shall live. View more context for this quotation 1642 D. Rogers 25 Craving [that] our owne lives may be given us as a prey, if we can speed for no more. 1827 J. Keble II. lxi. 42 Too happy if, that dreadful day, Thy life be given thee for a prey. β. 1484 W. Caxton tr. i. xiv The Egle beganne to flyhe and lete fall his proye. 4. the world > animals > birds > bird of prey > [noun] the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > robber > spoiler or plunderer > [noun] 1340 (1866) 142 Uor þe uoȝeles of praye [Fr. oisiaus de proie], þet byeþ þe dyeulen. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 309 Most hote briddes of complexioun and colerik, as briddes of pray, haueþ þe vtter partyes ȝelowe. 1485 W. Caxton tr. sig. fjv/2 Fawcons and other byrdes of proye. ?1533 G. Du Wes sig. Ciii v (heading) Haukes of pray syxtene kyndes. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) ii. i. 2 We must not make a scar-crow of the Law, Setting it vp to feare the Birds of prey . View more context for this quotation 1662 E. Stillingfleet iii. iii. §8 Even beasts of prey are not such to those of their own kind. 1721 R. Bradley 51 Subject to the voracious Appetites of the Fish of Prey. a1732 J. Gay (1738) II. xii. 106 Yet this you do, whene'er you play Among the gentlemen of prey. 1854 C. D. Badham 157 Representatives of all the raptores, or birds of prey, vultures, falcons, and owls. 1942 June 802/2 The numerous beasts of prey and pachyderms which are found in Africa. 1956 D. A. Bannerman V. p. v It is a sad fact that several of our most noble birds of prey can no longer be studied in what were once their native haunts. 2005 (Nexis) 22 May (Westchester Weekly section) 8/1 They encircled the girls, like animals of prey looking for their lunch. the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > robbery > spoliation or depredation > [noun] the world > food and drink > hunting > [noun] > hunting by animals a1375 (c1350) (1867) 15 (MED) Þat while was þe werwolf went a-boute his praye, what behoued to þe barn to bring as he miȝt. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 259 Some bestes..fleeþ and voydeþ companye..as fowles and briddes wiþ crokede clawes and bestes þat lyueþ by pray. a1425 (c1384) (Corpus Oxf.) (1850) Ezek. xxix. 19 He shal take by pray the raueynes therof [L. depraedabitur manubias eius], and he schal rauysshe the spuylis of it. c1451 J. Capgrave (1910) 101 (MED) Grete townes wer ny desolat; þere wat not elles but pray and þeft and brennyng. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. cccxciii. 675 (heading) Of the great pillage and proyes [table of contents proies] done by the Chanone Robirsarde and his company agaynst the kynge of Castyll. 1587 J. Hooker Chron. Ireland 112/1 in (new ed.) II Ormond..by the dailie inuasions and preies of Piers Grace was almost wasted and vnhabited. 1651 T. Hobbes i. xiv. 65 To expose himselfe to Prey..rather than to dispose himselfe to Peace. 1675 W. Temple Let. to Sir J. Williamson in (1731) II. 350 Both Parties will be out upon Prey. 1721 R. Bradley 116 The Otter..whose Prey is chiefly upon Fish. 1787 T. Jefferson (1859) II. 100 The general prey of the rich on the poor. 1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud iv. iv, in 17 The whole little wood where I sit is a world of plunder and prey. 1880 XI. 700/2 The Falcon..is often borne in heraldry... When feeding it is ‘at prey’. †II. A company of soldiers. society > armed hostility > warriors collectively > [noun] society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > [noun] > an army c1300 (?c1225) (Cambr.) (1901) 1235 (MED) Horn tok his preie & dude him in þe weie. c1400 (?a1300) (Laud) (1952) 1991 (MED) Alisaundre, þi foo..Liggeþ now wiþ swiche preye Þat he wriȝeþ al þe contreye. c1400 (?a1300) (Laud) (1952) 2591 (MED) Of his poeple þe grete praye Lasted twenty milen waye. a1500 (?c1450) 278 (MED) In the vaungarde were x ml that ledde the pray. Compounds C1. Objective. 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus I. John x. 72 To discerne the true shepeherd from ye thefe or prayecatcher. 1982 S. Tugwell iii. vi. 283 (note) M adds: Unde dicuntur praedicatores quasi praedae captatores (‘Hence the word “preachers”, “prey-catchers”’). 1992 R. Springhorn in S. Schaal & W. Ziegler 290 (title) Carnivores: agile climbers and prey catchers. a1633 H. C. Falkland in 1 The prey-devourer had our Prey bin made. 1552 R. Huloet Praye getter or seker, prædator. 1552 R. Huloet Praye getter or seker, prædator. 1556 N. Grimald tr. Cicero ii. f. 85 Who with their riches do raunsome men taken by preyeseekers. 1557 Earl of Surrey et al. sig. M.iiiv Whoso thou beest, preyseeker prowd, auaunt. 1999 (Nexis) 20 Aug. 24 If you listen closely to each pupil, you can hear something like..‘moon howler/prey seeker/fierce terrorisor’, intoned repeatedly. Charlotte is describing an eagle, Chris a wolf. 1619 T. Middleton sig. B3 The sturdiest Prey-taker that here assembles. C2. the world > animals > birds > bird of prey > [noun] 1777 iv. 170 The females of prey birds are always of a superior size, more beautiful and lovely in shape and colour, as well as more fierce, generous, and strong than the males. 1812 Ld. Byron i. lxxxviii. 55 Unworthy of the prey-bird's maw. 1822 P. B. Shelley 15 The prey-birds and the wolves are gorged and sleep. 1998 B. 265 1663/2 This study provides further evidence for a flexibility in the take-off by the prey-bird in the very first moment of a predator attack. the world > animals > fish > [noun] > ravenous or predatory 1899 Feb. 295 The numbers of useful fishes devoured by prey fishes, &c. 1959 40 297/2 During 4 nights more Scarus croicensis were eaten while no prey-fish were taken during the remaining 2 nights. 1998 31 Dec. 8/4 Rather too late we realised that if the tide brought in prey fish it could also have brought in sharks! This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022). preyv.Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: French praier ; prey n. Etymology: Partly < Anglo-Norman praier, preier, preyer, Anglo-Norman and Old French preer (end of the 11th cent. in Old French as preder ) (transitive) to plunder, pillage (end of the 11th cent.), to snatch away (early 13th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman), (intransitive) to go pillaging (c1100 in Old French; < post-classical Latin praedare (Vetus Latina), variant of classical Latin praedārī pread v.), and partly < prey n. Compare Portuguese prear (14th cent.), Italian predare (end of the 13th cent.). With the β. forms compare Anglo-Norman and Middle French proier (end of the 12th cent. in Old French). In Middle English prefixed and unprefixed forms of the past participle are attested (see y- prefix). †1. the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > robbery > spoliation or depredation > commit depredation [verb (intransitive)] c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 471 Hii wende aboute & preide [a1400 Trin. Cambr. preid]; hom ne miȝte noȝt atstonde. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) xvii. 226 The king gert men of gret nobillay Ryde in-till ynglande, for till pray. c1540 (?a1400) 2643 Parys with a pepull past into Grese In purpas to pray or profet to gete. the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > robbery > spoliation or depredation > despoil or prey upon [verb (transitive)] α. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 2503 (MED) Siþen þai spred to prai [a1400 Fairf. spoly; a1400 Gött. winne] þe land; Al þai tok þai forwit fand. c1450 in C. L. Kingsford (1905) 124 (MED) Þe ffrenschmen come downe with here vesselles into the maryes of Calys in þe servis tyme to have prayed away owre bests. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) xv. 330 The nethir end of tevydaill He prayit doune till him all haill. a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. (Rawl.) (1898) 183 (MED) The extorcioner rubbyth and Preyeth good men and trew. 1595 E. Spenser Amoretti lviii, in sig. D6v Deuouring tyme & changeful chance haue prayd, Her glories pride that none may it repayre. 1603 T. North tr. Plutarch Life Epaminondas in (new ed.) 10 To prey and spoil the Countrey. 1654 R. Codrington tr. Justinus xxiv. 336 Having plundered the Towns, and preyed the Fields. β. 1562 J. Shute tr. A. Cambini in i. f. 39 The Turckes..went and spoyled and proied all the contre.the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > robbery > spoliation or depredation > despoil or prey upon [verb (transitive)] > make a spoil of (something) 1596 E. Spenser v. iv. sig. P2v Yet my good lucke he shall not likewise pray . View more context for this quotation 1596 E. Spenser vi. x. sig. Hh6 His loues deare spoile, in which his heart was prayde . View more context for this quotation 1623 J. Bingham tr. Xenophon 7 The Cilicians, abundance of whose persons and goods, we haue preid and carrie with vs. 2. to prey on, to prey upon. the world > animals > by eating habits > [verb (transitive)] > prey on the world > food and drink > hunting > hunt [verb (transitive)] > hunt (of animal) the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > snare, trap, entanglement > entrap, ensnare [verb (transitive)] a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xvi. 13 The princes ware like til the leoun, that is, the deuel, redy til pray of mannys saule. 1575 G. Gascoigne lxvi. 185 They pray also vppon all Pullen. 1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay xxi. 369 He prepareth foode for the Rauens to pray vpon. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. iii. 119 'Tis The royall disposition of that beast To prey on nothing, that doth seeme as dead. View more context for this quotation 1676 B. Keach (single sheet) Have we not cause to think the crafty Fox, Will out abroad and prey upon the flocks. 1726 N. Amhurst (ed. 2) xl. 211 Such nurseries of drones and caterpillars, to prey upon it. 1782 J. H. St. J. de Crèvecoeur xii. 283 The lions of Africa..would no doubt kill us in order to prey upon our carcasses. 1841 R. W. Emerson Man the Reformer in Apr. 529 Every species of property is preyed on by its own enemies, as iron by rust, timber by rot. 1884 H. B. Tristram 73 The Rose-coloured Pastor is well known to the natives as the Locust Bird, from its habit of preying on that pest. 1957 A. C. Clarke i. i. 12 He was also David..alert for the mountain lions that would prey upon his father's sheep. 1976 110 1105 These baby dinosaurs easily could have been preyed upon by large lizards. 2001 Oct. 41 (caption) Asian wild dogs..prey on large game such as this sambar deer. the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > robbery > spoliation or depredation > despoil or prey upon [verb (transitive)] 1576 A. Fleming tr. C. Matius in 115 Either to aske that which was another mans right, or else to pray vpon that which was none of their owne. 1634 T. Herbert 71 He gaue..treasure there, to the Ianizaries and Spaheis to prey ouer. a1680 J. Glanvill (1681) iv. 212 No mans Life or property will be safe; mankind would worry and prey upon one another. 1759 S. Johnson I. ii. 10 Regions of calamity, where discord was always raging, and where man preyed upon man. 1843 T. B. Macaulay Ld. Clive in III. 120 Ferocious invaders descended through the western passes, to prey on the defenceless wealth of Hindostan. 1872 J. Yeats 264 The buccaneers preying upon Spanish commerce were masters of the smaller W. India Islands. 1926 J. Black ix. 111 He..made his living serving as ‘target’ or outside man, for the yegg mobs that preyed on country banks. 1964 R. Silverberg v. 163 Deprived of their bakshish, the Arabs preyed on the archaeologists. 1994 27 Nov. v. 13/5 Bandits continued to prey upon trains in these mountains from time to time. the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > misuse > [verb (transitive)] > exploit or take advantage of > specifically a person 1610 S. Rid 14 Brokers I meane and Vsurers, that like vultures prey vpon the simple. 1692 J. Locke 102 That..the dextrous and combining Money jobbers not have too great and unbounded a Power, to Prey upon..Ignorance or Necessity. 1713 R. Steele in 4 June 1/1 The Sharks, who prey upon the Inadvertency of young Heirs. 1792 M. Wollstonecraft xiii. 419 A vicious worldling, who pampers his appetites by preying on the foolish ones. 1861 G. H. Lewes Let. 20 Aug. in ‘G. Eliot’ (1954) III. 446 She allows herself to be preyed upon dreadfully by the boys—she can't say No. 1882 7/2 School, company of gamblers, mob of sharpers, and those who prey on the public. 1938 74 Those who, in the guise of ‘outside brokers,’ sought to prey upon their credulity. 1989 17 Dec. a19/1 Fears that a serial killer may be preying on the city's prostitutes haven't kept them from working. 2003 A. N. LeBlanc iv. 39 If the other fellas see you crying..that's gonna be one sign of weakness that they are going to prey on forever and a day. the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > cause or effect (harm) [verb (transitive)] > do harm or injury to > exert harmful influence upon > gradually 1666 S. Parker 27 Zeal is a fire in the Soul, which unless qualified and slaked by meekness and a calm-nature, doth..prey upon the mind. 1713 J. Addison iii. ii Language is too faint to show His rage of love; it preys upon his life. 1768 I. 223 His Face..was lengthened and disfigured by the Chagrin which constantly preyed on his mind. 1798 M. Wollstonecraft I. i. 18 Preyed on by the gnawing worm of discontent, with what eagerness did she endeavour to shorten the long days. 1833 W. Wordsworth 3 How baffled projects on the spirit prey. 1885 7 Feb. 270/2 His health was bad, and this had no doubt preyed very much upon his mind. 1894 ‘M. Twain’ xvi. 219 The villiany [sic] which he had played upon his trusting mother preyed upon his rag of conscience. 1934 17 Jan. 74/1 Simpson, who lives opposite, says it [sc. the house] was preying on his mind. 1955 E. Bowen vi. 107 Suspicion..preyed on Antonia. 2000 19 Apr. 11/6 Whether it was the comment that preyed on his mind or the fact that he had been on report..I cannot say. the world > animals > by eating habits > [verb (intransitive)] > seek or kill prey the world > food and drink > hunting > hunt [verb (intransitive)] > hunt (of animals) 1575 G. Gascoigne lxvi. 185 After three dayes they [sc. badgers] haue come out for pure hunger, and gone to praye for meate. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. iii. 23 Like an ore-growne Lyon in a Caue That goes not out to prey . View more context for this quotation 1647 N. Bacon 83 Nature taught beasts to prey for themselves. 1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch (1879) I. 142/2 Another fox finds the same fields to prey in. 1852 R. F. Burton iv. 41 (note) It becomes..a ‘soar-hawk,’ or ‘soarage’ when it has begun to prey for itself. 1903 J. London vii. 213 Wearing out the patience of creatures preyed upon, which is a lesser patience than that of creatures preying. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < n.a1250v.c1325 |