I. ra·ven ˈrāvən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English raven, reven, from Old English hræfn; akin to Middle Dutch & Middle Low German raven, Old High German hraban, Old Norse hrafn, Latin corvus raven, cornix crow, crepare to crack, creak, break, Greek korax raven, and perhaps to Sanskrit kṛpate he laments, implores
1.
a. : a large glossy-black bird ( Corvus corax ) that is widely distributed in northern parts of the northern hemisphere but now largely extinct in the eastern U.S., occurs in many local races, is omnivorous and somewhat predacious and noted for intelligent and mischievous behavior, and differs from the closely related common crow chiefly in its greater size and in having the feathers of the throat narrow and pointed
b. : any of several other usually large and glossy-black birds of the genus Corvus or family Corvidae ; especially : a somewhat predacious Australian bird ( C. coronoides ) — called also Australian raven
2. : a figure of a raven (as on a standard or coat of arms)
[s]raven.jpg[/s]
II. raven adjective
: of the color or glossy sheen of the raven : of the color raven black
raven curls
raven darkness
III. raven
variant of ravin
IV. rav·en verb
also rav·in ˈravə̇n
( ravened ; ravened ; ravening -v(ə̇)niŋ ; ravens )
Etymology: Middle French raviner to rush forward, take by force, ravish, from ravine rapine, impetuosity, rush — more at ravine
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to obtain or seize by violence
2. : to devour eagerly or greedily : consume wholly
like rats that raven down their proper bane — Shakespeare
intransitive verb
: to prey or plunder with rapacity : prowl after or devour prey : feed greedily : be or become ravenous or consuming
shall raven as a wolf — Gen 49:27 (Authorized Version)