- predatory
- \ \ see PREY
Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
predatory
Look at other dictionaries:
Predatory — Pred a*to*ry, a. [L. praedatorius, fr. praedari to plunder, fr. praeda prey. See {Prey}.] 1. Characterized by plundering; practicing rapine; plundering; pillaging; as, a predatory excursion; a predatory party. A predatory war. Macaulay. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
predatory — pred‧a‧to‧ry [ˈpredətri ǁ tɔːri] adjective trying to use someone s weaknesses to get an advantage: • a fiercely competitive and sometimes predatory organisation * * * predatory UK US /ˈpredətəri/ US /ˈpredətɔri/ adjective ► used to describe a… … Financial and business terms
predatory — pred·a·to·ry / pre də ˌtōr ē/ adj: inclined or intended to injure competitors by unfair means subject to antitrust liability for predatory conduct National Law Journal predatory bidding Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 … Law dictionary
predatory — (adj.) 1580s, from L. praedatorius, from praeda prey (see PREDATION (Cf. predation)). Of animals, from 1660s … Etymology dictionary
predatory — [adj] eating, destroying for sustenance or without conscience bloodthirsty, carnivorous, depredatory, despoiling, greedy, hungry, hunting, marauding, pillaging, plundering, predacious, predative, preying, rapacious, raptorial, ravaging, ravening … New thesaurus
predatory — ► ADJECTIVE 1) (of an animal) naturally preying on others. 2) seeking to exploit others … English terms dictionary
predatory — [pred′ə tôr΄ē] adj. [L praedatorius < praeda, PREY] 1. of, living by, or characterized by plundering, robbing, or exploiting others 2. living by capturing and feeding upon other animals; predacious predatorily adv. predatoriness n … English World dictionary
predatory — predatorily, adv. predatoriness, n. /pred euh tawr ee, tohr ee/, adj. 1. Zool. preying upon other organisms for food. 2. of, pertaining to, or characterized by plunder, pillage, robbery, or exploitation: predatory tactics. 3. engaging in or… … Universalium
predatory — [[t]pre̱dətri, AM tɔːri[/t]] 1) ADJ: usu ADJ n Predatory animals live by killing other animals for food. ...predatory birds like the eagle. 2) ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n Predatory people or organizations are eager to gain something out of someone else … English dictionary
predatory — pred|a|to|ry [ˈpredətəri US to:ri] adj [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: praedatorius, from praedari to seize and take away , from praeda stolen things ] 1.) a predatory animal kills and eats other animals for food 2.) trying to use someone s… … Dictionary of contemporary English
predatory — pred|a|to|ry [ predə,tɔri ] adjective 1. ) relating to animals that kill and eat other animals 2. ) treating other people badly for your own benefit: a predatory criminal a ) BUSINESS relating to companies that are looking for other companies to… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
