raveneth

Verb

raven (third-person singular simple present ravens, present participle ravening, simple past and past participle ravened)

1. (archaic, transitive) Sometimes followed by away or from: to obtain or seize (something, especially property) by force or violence; to plunder.
   • [They] aſſaulted by night a certen aũciẽt [auncient] gentleman at home in his owne houſe, which had done thē [them] no diſpleaſure, and being a ſlepe in his bed at their cõming [comming], whan he had hardly eſcaped awaye half naked, rauening and diſtroying his goodes, they ſpoyled his wyfe and...1560 October 5 (Gregorian calendar), John Sledaine [i.e., Johannes Sleidanus], “The .XXIJ. Booke”, in Ihon [i.e., John] Daus, transl., A Famouse Cronicle of Oure Time, Called Sleidanes Commentaries...
2. (archaic, transitive) Sometimes followed by down, up, or (obsolete) in: to eat (something, such as food or prey) greedily; to devour, to wolf down.
   • Her princes in the middes thereof are like vvolues, rauening yͤ pray [prey] to ſhed blood, and to ſhed blood, and to deſtroye ſoules for their ovvne couetous lucre.1560, [William Whittingham et al., transl.], The Bible and Holy Scriptures Conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. […] (the Geneva Bible), Geneva: […] Rouland Hall, →OCLC, Ezekiél XXII:27, folio...
3. (figuratively, transitive) To absorb or take in (something, such as information) greedily; also, to approach or pounce on (someone) like prey.
   • [S]he fenced them in their need / With iron-handed Duty's sternest creed, / 'Gainst Self's lean wolf that ravens word and deed.1875 April 19 (date delivered; published 1875 June), James Russell Lowell, “Ode Read at the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Fight at Concord Bridge, 19th April, 1875”, in Three Memorial Poems...
4. (intransitive) Followed by about, after, or for: to go after or seek for something, especially booty or spoils; to maraud, to plunder; also (generally), to move about wildly and cause damage; to rampage.
   • [T]he ſouldiours not yet ſatisfied with ſpoiling and ſacking the reſt that they found in the ſaid Tailleret, raging about the confines thereof, rauened and made hauocke on euery ſide, of whatſoeuer they could lay hands on, taking priſoners both men and women, which were loden with carriage.1610 October, John Foxe, The Second Volume of the Ecclesiasticall Historie, Containing the Acts and Monuments of Martyrs, […], 6th edition, volume II, London: […] [Humphrey Lownes] for the Company of...
5. (intransitive) To eat greedily; also, followed by on or upon: of an animal: to prey on.
   • The couaitous deſyre of riche men is euer vnſaciable. It always raueneth and neuer is ſatisfied.1545 July 12 (Gregorian calendar), Thomas Elyot, A Preseruatiue agaynste Deth, London: […] Thomas Berthelet, […], →OCLC, signature [B.vi.], recto
6. (intransitive) Sometimes followed by about or on: to move about searching for food or prey ravenously.
   • [T]he Arms and Hands of the Bear, […] are his ſtrength and inſtrument of action to raven and prey vvith; […]1680, Henry More, chapter XIII, in Apocalypsis Apocalypseos; or The Revelation of St John the Divine Unveiled. […], London: […] J. M. for J[ohn] Martyn, and W. Kettilby, […], →OCLC, page 124

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