raven

¹ American  

[rey-vuhn] / ˈreɪ vən /

noun

1. any of several large, corvine birds having lustrous, black plumage and a loud, harsh call, especially the common raven, Corvus corax, of both the New World and the Old World.

2. Raven, the divine culture hero and trickster of the North Pacific Coast Indians.

3. Astronomy. Raven, the constellation Corvus.

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adjective

1. lustrous black.

   raven locks of hair.

raven ² American  

[rav-uhn] / ˈræv ən /

Also ravin

verb (used without object)

1. to seek plunder or prey.

2. to eat or feed voraciously or greedily.

   to raven like an animal.

3. to have a ravenous appetite.

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verb (used with object)

1. to seize as spoil or prey.

2. to devour voraciously.

noun

1. rapine; robbery.

2. plunder or prey.

raven ¹ British  

/ ˈreɪvən /

noun

1. a large passerine bird, Corvus corax , having a large straight bill, long wedge-shaped tail, and black plumage: family Corvidae (crows). It has a hoarse croaking cry

2. 1. a shiny black colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      raven hair

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raven ² British  

/ ˈrævən /

verb

1. to seize or seek (plunder, prey, etc)

2. to eat (something) voraciously or greedily; be ravenous in eating

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Raven ³ British  

/ ˈreɪvən /

noun

1. a traditional trickster hero among the native peoples of the Canadian Pacific Northwest

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Other Word Forms

• ravener noun
• ravenlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of raven¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English hrǣfn, hrefn; cognate with German Rabe, Old Norse hrafn

Origin of raven²

First recorded in 1485–95; earlier ravine, from Middle French raviner, ultimately from Latin rapīna “plunder, rapine”; rapine

Example Sentences

A dead raven floated on the water’s surface.

From Salon

Johnson pledges his devotion to tropes like cawing ravens and thunderous rainstorms while giving his various red herrings silly nicknames like “the knife robot” and “the clangy clunk.”

From Los Angeles Times

This year’s rendition is filled with murderous red-eyed ravens up to no good, and in true Haunted Mansion fashion it has a pun for a name.

From Los Angeles Times

Every time the raven cried “Nevermore!” the children would toss their peas in the air and try to catch them in their mouths.

From Literature

Discarded eventually — a raven essentially fills a similar role — the cat today has been resurrected for the Mansion, most notably in a revised attic scene where the kitty is spotted near a mournful bride.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bully
• devour
• exploit
• feed on
• fleece
• haunt
• intimidate
• oppress
• plunder
• take advantage of
• victimize