adj.
Variant: or pre · da · cious
Pronunciation: pri- ' d ā -sh ə s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin praedari to prey upon (fr. praeda prey) + English -aceous or -acious (as in rapacious ) ― more at PREY
Date: 1713
1 : living by preying on other animals : PREDATORY
2 usually predacious : tending to devour or despoil : RAPACIOUS
– pre · da · ceous · ness noun
– pre · dac · i · ty \ - ' da-s ə -t ē \ noun