— ravenously , adv. — ravenousness , n.
/rav"euh neuhs/ , adj.
1. extremely hungry; famished; voracious: feeling ravenous after a hard day's work.
2. extremely rapacious: a ravenous jungle beast.
3. intensely eager for gratification or satisfaction.
[ 1350-1400; ME ravineus, equiv. to ravin ( er ) to RAVEN 2 + -eus -OUS ]
Syn. 1. greedy, starved, devouring. RAVENOUS, RAVENING, VORACIOUS suggest a greediness for food and usually intense hunger. RAVENOUS implies extreme hunger, or a famished condition: ravenous wild beasts. RAVENING adds the idea of fierceness and savagery, esp. as shown in a violent manner of acquiring food: ravening wolves. VORACIOUS implies craving or eating a great deal of food: a voracious child; a voracious appetite. It may also be used figuratively: a voracious reader. 2. predatory.
Ant. 1. sated.