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Rapacious

adj

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Voracious; avaricious. also, figuratively

    "To presume a want of motives for such contests [of power between states] as an argument against their existence, would be to forget that men are ambitious, vindictive, and rapacious."

  2. 2
    Given to taking by force or plundering; aggressively greedy.

    "A Prince […] sooner becomes hated by being rapacious and by interfering with the property and with the women of his subjects, than in any other way."

  3. 3
    Subsisting off live prey.

    "Even the rapacious birds appeared to comprehend the nature of the ceremony, for […] they once more began to make their airy circuits above the place[…]"

Adjective
  1. 1
    devouring or craving food in great quantities wordnet
  2. 2
    excessively greedy and grasping wordnet
  3. 3
    living by preying on other animals especially by catching living prey wordnet

Etymology

Perhaps from rapacity + -ous, in any case ultimately from Latin rapāx (“grasping, greedy”).

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