And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the
spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest. --Num. xxxi.
12.
2. 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.
3. The act of devouring other creatures; ravage.
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.
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.