Main Entry: pre·da·ceous

Variant(s): or pre·da·cious \pri-ˈdā-shəs\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Latin praedari to prey upon (from praeda prey) + English -aceous or -acious (as in rapacious) — more at prey

Date: 1713

1 : living by preying on other animals : predatory
2 usually predacious : tending to devour or despoil : rapacious

— pre·da·ceous·ness noun

— pre·dac·i·ty \-ˈda-sə-tē\ noun