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der; disposed or accustomed to seize by violence; seizing by force. " The downfall of the rapacious and licentious Knights Templar." Motley.

A genus of rapacious birds; one of the Accipitres or Raptores.

The order that includes rapacious birds. They have a hooked bill, and sharp, strongly curved talons. There are three families, represented by the vultures, the falcons or hawks, and the owls.

Of a different tincture from the animal itself; -- said of the eyes of a rapacious animal. Brande & C.

Any large, rapacious bird of the Falcon family, esp. of the genera Aquila and Haliæetus. The eagle is remarkable for strength, size, graceful figure, keenness of vision, and extraordinary flight. The most noted species are the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaëtus); the imperial eagle of Europe (A. mogilnik or imperialis); t…

Fierce; savage; wild; indicating cruelty; ravenous; rapacious; as, ferocious look or features; a ferocious lion. The humbled power of a ferocious enemy. Lowth.

Any small vessel on the water. [Obs.] Spenser. Frigate bird (Zoöl.), a web-footed rapacious bird, of the genus Fregata; -- called also man-of-war bird, and frigate pelican. Two species are known; that of the Southern United States and West Indies is F. aquila. They are remarkable for their long wings and powerful fligh…

One who is rapacious or ravenous; an extortioner. The harpies about all pocket the pool. Goldsmith.

One of numerous species and genera of rapacious birds of the family Falconidæ. They differ from the true falcons in lacking the prominent tooth and notch of the bill, and in having shorter and less pointed wings. Many are of large size and grade into the eagles. Some, as the goshawk, were formerly trained like falcons.…

Fig. : One who is rapacious. Detested kite, thou liest. Shak.

Having large hands, Fig.: Taking, or giving, in large quantities; rapacious or bountiful.

public; to steal public moneys intrusted to one's care; to embezzle. An oppressive, . . . rapacious, and peculating despotism. Burke.

The quality of being rapacious; rapaciousness; ravenousness; as, the rapacity of pirates; the rapacity of wolves.

Rapacious; living upon prey; -- said especially of certain birds.

Greedily devouring; rapacious; as, ravening wolves. -- Rav"en*ing*ly, adv.

Devouring with rapacious eagerness; furiously voracious; hungry even to rage; as, a ravenous wolf or vulture.

A trickish, rapacious fellow; a cheat; a sharper. Wycherley.

A rapacious, artful person; a sharper. [Colloq.]

Wasteful; rapacious. [Poetic]

A falling on and seizing, as the prey of a rapacious bird; the act of swooping. The eagle fell, . . . and carried away a whole litter of cubs at a swoop. L'Estrange.