from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Rapacious \Ra*pa"cious\ (r[.a]*p[=a]"sh[u^]s), a. [L. rapax,
-acis, from rapere to seize and carry off, to snatch away.
See {Rapid}.]
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1. Given to plunder; disposed or accustomed to seize by
violence; seizing by force. " The downfall of the
rapacious and licentious Knights Templar." --Motley.
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2. Accustomed to seize food; subsisting on prey, or animals
seized by violence; as, a tiger is a rapacious animal; a
rapacious bird.
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3. Avaricious; grasping; extortionate; also, greedy;
ravenous; voracious; as, rapacious usurers; a rapacious
appetite.
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[Thy Lord] redeem thee quite from Death's rapacious
claim --Milton.
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Syn: Greedy; grasping; ravenous; voracious.
[1913 Webster] -- {Ra*pa"cious*ly}, adv. --
{Ra*pa"cious*ness}, n.
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