depredation
[dep-ri-dey-shuh n]
- the act of preying upon or plundering; robbery; ravage.
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Origin of depredation
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
wastingdesecrationtheftrapinepillagedesolationstealingcrimeplunderrobberyburglarysackingravagingspoliationmaraudingExamples from the Web for depredation
Historical Examples
That is, if Shekels is out on depredation and I cant get hold of him.
A Horse's TaleMark Twain
By this time the Rebels had collected a very considerable force and every night committed some outrage and depredation.
Their most criminal act of depredation, was in regard to my brother's pipe.
All the effect is expressed by the words, depredation of forces.
Economic SophismsFrederic Bastiat
"It must have been some other regiment, sir, who committed the depredation," said the Colonel.
Following the FlagCharles Carleton Coffin
depredation
- the act or an instance of plundering; robbery; pillage
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for depredation
n.
late 15c., from Middle French déprédation, from Late Latin depraedationem (nominative depraedatio) "a plundering," from past participle stem of Latin depraedari "to pillage," from de- "thoroughly" (see de-) + praedari "to plunder," literally "to make prey of," from praeda "prey" (see prey).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper