raven

Meanings

Noun

• Any of several, generally large and lustrous black species of birds in the genus Corvus, especially the common raven, Corvus corax.
• A jet-black colour.
• Rapine; rapacity.
• Prey; plunder; food obtained by violence.

Adjective

• Of the color of the raven; jet-black

Verb

• To obtain or seize by violence.
• To devour with great eagerness.
• To prey on with rapacity.
• To show rapacity; to be greedy (for something).

Origin

• Image:The Raven.jpg|thumb|right|A raven (bird).
• From Middle English raven, reven, from Old English hræfn, from Proto-West Germanic *hrabn, from Proto-Germanic *hrabnaz.
• From Middle English ravene, ravine, from Old French raviner, itself from ravine, from Latin rapīna, itself from rapere.