I. ra·ven ˈrā-vən noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hræfn; akin to Old High German hraban raven, Latin corvus, Greek korax
Date: before 12th century
: a large glossy black corvine bird ( Corvus corax ) of Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and America
II. raven adjective
Date: 1588
: shiny and black like a raven's feathers
raven hair
III. rav·en ˈra-vən verb
( rav·ened ; rav·en·ing ˈra-və-niŋ, ˈrav-niŋ)
Etymology: Middle French raviner to rush, take by force, from ravine rapine
Date: 1530
intransitive verb
1. : to feed greedily
2. : to prowl for food : prey
3. : plunder
transitive verb
1. : to devour greedily
2. : despoil
men… raven the earth, destroying its resources — New Yorker
• rav·en·er ˈra-və-nər, ˈrav-nər noun