Rapa"cious (?), a. [L. rapax, -acis, from rapere to seize and carry off, to snatch away. See Rapid.]

1.

Given to plunder; disposed or accustomed to seize by violence; seizing by force.

" The downfall of the rapacious and licentious Knights Templar."

Motley.

2.

Accustomed to seize food; subsisting on prey, or animals seized by violence,; as, a tiger is a rapacious animal; a rapacious bird.

3.

Avaricious; grasping; extortionate; also, greedy; ravenous; voracious; as, rapacious usurers; a rapacious appetite.

[Thy Lord] redeem thee from Death's rapacious claim Milton
.

Syn. -- Greedy; grasping; ravenous; voracious.

-- Ra*pa"cious*ly, adv. -- Ra*pa"cious*ness, n.

 

© Webster 1913.

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