Preying: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
preying
[ หpreษชษชล ]
hunting animals
Preying refers to the act of hunting, capturing, and consuming another organism for nourishment. It is a behavior commonly observed in various animal species, where one animal (the predator) hunts another (the prey) for sustenance.
Synonyms
attacking, capturing, hunting, stalking.
Examples of usage
- The eagle enjoys preying on small mammals.
- Lions are known for preying on zebras and antelopes.
- The snake was preying on unsuspecting rodents in the grass.
- Sharks are ruthless when preying in the ocean.
- Spiders are often seen preying on insects caught in their webs.
taking advantage
Preying can also mean to take advantage of someone, exploiting their vulnerabilities, often in a predatory manner. This usage extends beyond the natural world into social and psychological contexts.
Synonyms
bullying, exploiting, manipulating.
Examples of usage
- He was preying on their insecurities to manipulate them.
- Con artists often prey on the elderly.
- Scammers are preying on people during the pandemic.
- Predators often prey on those who are emotionally vulnerable.
- The company was accused of preying on its customers' fears.
Translations
Translations of the word "preying" in other languages:
๐ต๐น predador
๐ฎ๐ณ เคถเคฟเคเคพเคฐ เคเคฐเคจเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช beuteln
๐ฎ๐ฉ memangsa
๐บ๐ฆ ะฟะพะปัะฒะฐะฝะฝั
๐ต๐ฑ polowanie
๐ฏ๐ต ๆ้ฃ
๐ซ๐ท prรฉdateur
๐ช๐ธ depredador
๐น๐ท avcฤฑlฤฑk
๐ฐ๐ท ์ฌ๋ฅ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุงูุชุฑุงุณ
๐จ๐ฟ lov
๐ธ๐ฐ lov
๐จ๐ณ ๆ้ฃ
๐ธ๐ฎ plen
๐ฎ๐ธ veiรฐa
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะฐาฃััะปัา
๐ฌ๐ช แแแแแแแ แ
๐ฆ๐ฟ ov
๐ฒ๐ฝ depredador
Etymology
The word 'prey' originates from the Latin 'praeda,' meaning 'that which is taken by violence or force,' which itself comes from the verb 'praedari,' meaning 'to rob or plunder.' This Latin term was imported into Old French as 'preie,' referring to the act of capturing or seizing. Over time, the term evolved in English during the Middle Ages, where it began to signify not only animals hunted for food but also metaphorically came to describe people or groups taken advantage of by others. The nuance of preying as exploiting vulnerabilities adds depth to its usage in modern contexts.