De*vour" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devoured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Devouring.] [F. d'evorer, 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.
© Webster 1913. | 
