Prey word meaning and definition

[noun] animal hunted or caught for food
[noun] a person who is the victim of ridicule or exploitation by some hostile person or influence; "he fell prey to muggers"; "everyone was fair game"
[verb] prey on or hunt for; "These mammals predate certain eggs"
[verb] profit from in an exploitatory manner; "He feeds on her insecurity"

\Prey\, n. [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. 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.
\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.

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