Ravenous means extremely hungry, as if you could eat a huge amount of food. It can also describe a very strong desire for something other than food.
It comes from Old French “ravineus,” from “raviner,” meaning “to seize or plunder,” from Latin “rapina,” meaning “robbery,” related to “rapere,” “to seize.” The word shifted from violent taking to intense hunger.
When you’re “ravenous,” your hunger is being compared to a predator that seizes its prey. English often borrows this animal‑like language for strong desires—we “devour” books, have a “craving” for success, and feel “hungry” for power.
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