Raven \Ra"ven\ (r[=a]"v'n), n. [AS. hr[ae]fn; akin to D. raaf, G. rabe, OHG. hraban, Icel. hrafn, Dan. ravn, and perhaps to L. corvus, Gr. ko`rax. [root]19.] (Zo["o]l.) A large black passerine bird ({Corvus corax}), similar to the crow, but larger, and has a harsh, loud call. It is native of the northern parts of Europe, Asia and America, and is noted for its sagacity.
{Sea raven} (Zo["o]l.), the cormorant.
Raven \Ra"ven\, a. Of the color of the raven; jet black; as, raven curls; raven darkness.
Raven \Rav"en\ (r[a^]v"'n), n. [OF. ravine impetuosity, violence, F. ravine ravine. See {Ravine}, {Rapine}.] [Written also {ravin}, and {ravine}.] 1. Rapine; rapacity. --Ray.
2. Prey; plunder; food obtained by violence.
Raven \Rav"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ravened} (r[a^]v"'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Ravening}.] [Written also ravin, and ravine.] 1. To obtain or seize by violence. --Hakewill.
2. To devour with great eagerness.
Like rats that ravin down their proper bane. --Shak.
Raven \Rav"en\, v. i. To prey with rapacity; to be greedy; to show rapacity. [Written also {ravin}, and {ravine}.]
Benjamin shall raven as a wolf. --Gen. xlix. 27.
The daily Maariv newspaper published a picture of a policeman holding the dead raven, which had a wing span of about three feet.
Officials at Point Defiance, who had been hoping to add a raven to the zoo's population, responded.