preyful

From prey +‎ -ful.

• Rhymes: -eɪfʊl

preyful (comparative more preyful, superlative most preyful)

1. Disposed to take prey, or hunting for prey.
   • 1614–1615, Homer, “(please specify the book number)”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., Homer’s Odysses. […], London: […] Rich[ard] Field [and William Jaggard], for Nathaniell Butter, published 1615, →OCLC; republished in The Odysseys of Homer, […], volume (please specify the book number), London: John Russell Smith, […], 1857, →OCLC:

     the preyful brood of savage beasts

     The spelling has been modernized.

2. (obsolete) full of, or abounding in, prey.
   • c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:

     The preyful Princess pierc'd and prick'd a pretty pleasing pricket

• “preyful”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.