prey Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
fair game; target; quarry.
- he fell prey to muggers
- everyone was fair game
- the target of a manhunt
noun animal hunted or caught for food
quarry.
verb profit from in an exploitatory manner
feed.
- He feeds on her insecurity
verb prey on or hunt for
predate; raven.
- These mammals predate certain eggs

OF. preie, F. proie, L. praeda, probably for praeheda. See Prehensile, and cf. Depredate, Predatory.

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.
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.
The act of devouring other creatures; ravage.
Hog in sloth, fox in stealth, . . . lion in prey. Shak.

OF. preier, preer, L. praedari, fr. praeda. See Prey, n.

imperfect & past participle Preyed ; present participle & verbal noun Preying

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.
Addison.