First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
devour
verb de·vour \di-ˈvau̇(-ə)r, dē-\
Definition of DEVOUR
transitive verb
1
: to eat up greedily or ravenously
2
: to use up or destroy as if by eating <we are devouring the world's resources>
3
: to prey upon <devoured by guilt>
4
: to enjoy avidly <devours books>
— de·vour·er noun
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Origin of DEVOUR
Middle English, from Anglo-French devour-, stem of devorer, from Latin devorare, from de- + vorare to devour — more at voracious
DEVOURER Defined for Kids
devour
verb de·vour \di-ˈvau̇r\
de·vouredde·vour·ing
Definition of DEVOUR for Kids
1
: to eat up hungrily
2
: to take in eagerly by the senses or mind <He devoured the information.>
3
: to destroy as if by eating <The buildings were devoured by flames.>
Word Root of DEVOUR
The Latin word vorāre, meaning “to eat greedily,” gives us the root vor. Words from the Latin vorāre have something to do with eating. An herbivorous animal eats only plants. A carnivorous animal eats only other animals. To devour is to eat up greedily. Anyone voracious likes to eat a lot.
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