■ noun an animal hunted and killed by another for food.
↘a victim or quarry.
↘ archaic plunder or (in biblical use) a prize.
■ verb ( ~ on/upon )
1》 hunt and kill for food.
2》 exploit or injure.
↘cause constant distress to: the problem had begun to ~ on my mind.
Derivatives
~er noun
Origin
ME: the noun from OFr. preie , from L. praeda 'booty', the verb from OFr. preier , based on L. praedari 'seize as plunder', from praeda .