Dictionary entry

Devour

Webster's Dictionary 1913

De‐vour″ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Devoured (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Devouring.] [F. dévorer, fr. L. devorare; de + vorare to eat greedily, swallow up. See Voracious.] 1. To eat up with greediness; to consume ravenously; to feast upon like a wild beast or a glutton; to prey upon.

Some evil beast hath devoured him. Gen. xxxvii. 20.

2. To seize upon and destroy or appropriate greedily, selfishly, or wantonly; to consume; to swallow up; to use up; to waste; to annihilate.

Famine and pestilence shall devour him. Ezek. vii. 15.

I waste my life and do my days devour. Spenser.

3. To enjoy with avidity; to appropriate or take in eagerly by the senses.

Longing they look, and gaping at the sight,

Devour her o'er with vast delight. Dryden.

Syn. — To consume; waste; destroy; annihilate.