ravener
(ˈræv(ə)nə(r))
Forms: α. 4 rauaynour, 4–5 raueynour; 4 rauynour, (5 -or, -oure), 4–6 ravinour; 4–7 rauenour, -or, (5 -owre). β. 5 raveyner; 4–6 rau-, raviner, 5–6 ravyner; 4–6 rauener, 6 rauenar, rav'ner, 5– ravener.
[a. OF. ravineor, -our (13th c. in Godef.):—L. rapīnātōr-em: see raven v. and -or, -er. In common use from end of 14th to end of 17th c.; now rare or Obs.]
1. One who ravens or takes goods by force; a robber, plunderer, despoiler.
| α c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. iv. pr. iii. 94 (Camb. MS.) Yif he..be a rauaynour by vyolence of foreyne rychesse. c 1442 Jacob's Well (E.E.T.S.) 17 Alle þat comaundyn oþere to don raveyn & thefte, & alle raueynoures. 1539 Tonstall Serm. Palm Sund. (1823) 67 To make this realme a praye to al venturers, al spoylers,..all rauenours of the worlde. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. i. 108 These shamelesse Irish ravenours returne home. |
| β c 1375 XI Pains Hell 36 in O.E. Misc. 211 Þese were proud men, raueners echon. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xviii. 43 Men of holy churche Sholde..refuse reuerences and raueneres offrynges. c 1440 Jacob's Well (E.E.T.S.) 56 Alle opyn thevys, & alle false raveynerys, murdereres, nyȝt⁓thevys. c 1580 Sidney Ps. xvii. iv, Ledd by thy word, the rav'ners stepps I shun. 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii. 99 These..Seas, are free from pestilent Raueners. 1697 C. Leslie Snake in Grass (ed. 2) 96 Raveners from Christ, and his utter Enemies. |
2. A deforcer, ravisher, destroyer, etc.
rare.
| 1390 Gower Conf. II. 312 Schrif thee hier, If thou hast ben a Raviner Of love. Ibid. 316 And so that tirant raviner, Whan that sche was in his pouer. 1594 Carew Tasso (1881) 68 That murderer, Of my bloud royall cruell rauiner. |
3. A ravenous or voracious animal or person; a glutton.
| α 1496 Fysshynge w. Angle (1883) 30 The ele is a quasy fysshe, a rauenour & a deuourer of the brode of fysshe. 1567 J. Maplet Gr. Forest 94 The mouse..is for his bignes a verie rauenour or greedigut. 1591 Lodge Catharos D ij b, These two bold rauenors, seeking in the Summer euening for their..Supper. 1601 Holland Pliny I. 243 As for the sea Pontus, there enter into it few or no rauenours that haunt and deuoure fishes, vnlesse it be the Seales & little Dolphins. |
| β 1520 Whitinton Vulg. (1527) 13 He is great ravener, specyally if he come there as be good dysshes. 1577 tr. Bullinger's Decades (1592) 384 Of Birdes those are forbidden which are the greatest raueners. 1627 Bp. Hall Imprese of God ii. Wks. 456 This honie of the Church..is let downe and digested by these raueners. 1638 Rawley tr. Bacon's Life & Death (1650) 11 The Pike, amongst Fishes..is a Ravener. |
b. With preps., as
after,
for,
of.
| 1519 W. Horman Vulg. 71 Thou arte a rauenar of delicates and a francher. 1587 L. Mascall Govt. Cattle, Hogges (1627) 255 The hog..is a great rauener for his meate. 1614 B. Jonson Barth. Fair i. i, He is such a ravener after fruit. 1692 R. L'Estrange Fables ii. clxxviii. (1699) 166 Well! says the Fox, and nobody will Tax me..for a Ravener of Roots and Apples. |