from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Devour \De*vour"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Devoured}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Devouring}.] [F. d['e]vorer, fr. L. devorare; de + vorare
to eat greedily, swallow up. See {Voracious}.]
1. To eat up with greediness; to consume ravenously; to feast
upon like a wild beast or a glutton; to prey upon.
[1913 Webster]
Some evil beast hath devoured him. --Gen. xxxvii.
20.
[1913 Webster]
2. To seize upon and destroy or appropriate greedily,
selfishly, or wantonly; to consume; to swallow up; to use
up; to waste; to annihilate.
[1913 Webster]
Famine and pestilence shall devour him. --Ezek. vii.
15.
[1913 Webster]
I waste my life and do my days devour. --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
3. To enjoy with avidity; to appropriate or take in eagerly
by the senses.
[1913 Webster]
Longing they look, and gaping at the sight,
Devour her o'er with vast delight. --Dryden.
Syn: To consume; waste; destroy; annihilate.
[1913 Webster]