depredation

[dep-ri-dey-shuh n]

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noun

the act of preying upon or plundering; robbery; ravage.

Origin of depredation

1475–85; < Late Latin dēpraedātiōn- (stem of dēpraedātiō) a plundering, equivalent to dēpraedāt(us) (see depredate) + -iōn- -ion

Related formsdep·re·da·tion·ist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for depredation

wasting, desecration, theft, rapine, pillage, desolation, stealing, crime, plunder, robbery, burglary, sacking, ravaging, spoliation, marauding

Examples from the Web for depredation

Historical Examples of depredation

That is, if Shekels is out on depredation and I cant get hold of him.
A Horse's Tale
Mark Twain
By this time the Rebels had collected a very considerable force and every night committed some outrage and depredation.
An Impartial Narrative of the Most Important Engagements Which Took Place Between His Majesty's Forces and the Rebels, During the Irish Rebellion, 1798.
John Jones
Their most criminal act of depredation, was in regard to my brother's pipe.
An English Girl's First Impressions of Burmah
Beth Ellis
All the effect is expressed by the words, depredation of forces.
Economic Sophisms
Frederic Bastiat
"It must have been some other regiment, sir, who committed the depredation," said the Colonel.
Following the Flag
Charles Carleton Coffin

British Dictionary definitions for depredation

depredation

noun

the act or an instance of plundering; robbery; pillage

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

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).