Pred"a*to*ry (?), a. [L. praedatorius, fr. praedari to plunder, fr. praeda prey. See Prey.]
1.
Characterized by plundering; practicing rapine; plundering; pillaging; as, a predatory excursion; a predatory party.
"A
predatory war."
Macaulay.
2.
Hungry; ravenous; as, predatory spirits.
[Obs.]
Exercise . . . maketh the spirits more hot and predatory.
Bacon.
3. Zool.
Living by preying upon other animals; carnivorous.
© Webster 1913.