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 (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preying.]
[OF. preier, preer, L. praedari, fr. praeda. See Prey, n.] 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.
Prey"er (?), n. One who, or that which, preys; a plunderer; a waster; a
devourer. Hooker.