Ravenous
/ˈræv.ən.əs/noun
Extremely hungry; voracious.
Did you know?English ravenous was shaped by Old French ravenir, linked to the idea of a violent seizing or devouring, and its sound was later pulled toward raven, making the word feel even more ominous.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
LL
rapināre
“to seize, plunder”
Old French
OF
ravenir / ravineux
“to seize violently; ravenous, greedy”
Middle English
ME
ravenous
“voracious, greedily hungry”
Modern English
EN
ravenous
“extremely hungry; devouring”