prey

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   An animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal.

   Rabbits are easy prey for foxes and hawks.

2. 2
   noun

   A person who is easily harmed, cheated, or attacked by someone or something.

   Lonely older people can become easy prey for online scammers.

3. 3
   verb

   To hunt and eat another animal, or to harm and take advantage of someone weaker.

   Owls prey on small mammals at night.

From Middle English praien, prayen, preyen, partly from the noun and partly from Old French praer, preer, earlier preder, from Late Latin praedō, collateral form of Latin praedor, from praeda (“plunder, booty, loot”) + -ō (verbal suffix). Doublet of prede.

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