Prey v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preyed p. pr. & vb. n. Preying.]  To take booty; to gather spoil; to ravage; to take food by violence.
 More pity that the eagle should be mewed,
 While kites and buzzards prey at liberty.   --Shak.
 To prey on or To prey upon. (a) To take prey from; to despoil; to pillage; to rob. --Shak. (b) To seize as prey; to take for food by violence; to seize and devour. --Shak. (c) To wear away gradually; to cause to waste or pine away; as, the trouble preyed upon his mind.

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