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adj. 1. Living or characterized by preying on other animals: a predatory insect; predatory instincts. 2. a. Living or characterized by plundering, pillaging, or marauding. b. Living or characterized by the exploitation of others for personal gain: predatory business practices. [Latin praedātōrius, plundering, from praedārī, to plunder, from praeda, booty; see ghend- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] pred′a·tori·ly adv. preda·to′ri·ness n. |
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