Raven
(Ra"ven), a. Of the color of the raven; jet black; as, raven curls; raven darkness.
Raven
(Rav"en) n. [OF. raviné impetuosity, violence, F. ravine ravine. See Ravine, Rapine.] [Written
also ravin, and ravine.]
1. Rapine; rapacity. Ray.
2. Prey; plunder; food obtained by violence.
Raven
(Rav"en), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ravened (-'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Ravening.] [Written also ravin,
and ravine.]
1. To obtain or seize by violence. Hakewill.
2. To devour with great eagerness.
Like rats that ravin down their proper bane.
Shak. Raven
(Rav"en), v. i. To prey with rapacity; to be greedy; to show rapacity. [Written also ravin, and ravine.]
Benjamin shall raven as a wolf.
Gen. xlix. 27. Ravenala
(||Rav`e*na"la) n. [Malagasy.] (Bot.) A genus of plants related to the banana.
Ravenala Madagascariensis, the principal species, is an unbranched tree with immense oarlike leaves
growing alternately from two sides of the stem. The sheathing bases of the leafstalks collect and retain
rain water, which flows freely when they are pierced with a knife, whence the plant is called traveler's
tree.
Ravener
(Rav"en*er) n.
1. One who, or that which, ravens or plunders. Gower.
2. A bird of prey, as the owl or vulture. [Obs.] Holland.
Ravening
(Rav"en*ing), n. Eagerness for plunder; rapacity; extortion. Luke xi. 39.
Ravening
(Rav"en*ing), a. Greedily devouring; rapacious; as, ravening wolves. — Rav"en*ing*ly, adv.
Ravenous
(Rav"en*ous) a. [From 2d Raven.]
1. Devouring with rapacious eagerness; furiously voracious; hungry even to rage; as, a ravenous wolf or
vulture.
2. Eager for prey or gratification; as, a ravenous appetite or desire.
