PREY (2)

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.