%raven%

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Contravened p. pr. & vb. n. Contravening. ] [ LL. contravenire; L. contra + venire to come: cf. F. contrevenir. See Come. ] 1. To meet in the way of opposition; to come into conflict with; to oppose; to contradict; to obstruct the operation of; to defeat. [ 1913 Webster ]

So plain a proposition . . . was not likely to be contravened. Southey. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To violate; to nullify; to be inconsistent with; as, to contravene a law. [ 1913 Webster ]

Laws that place the subjects in such a state contravene the first principles of the compact of authority. Johnson.

Syn. -- To contradict; set aside; nullify; defeat; cross; obstruct; baffle; thwart. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who contravenes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. contravention. ] The act of contravening; opposition; obstruction; transgression; violation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Warrants in contravention of the acts of Parliament. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

In contravention of all his marriage stipulations. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. cravant, cravaunde, OF. cravant&unr_; struck down, p. p. of cravanter, crevanter, to break, crush, strike down, fr. an assumed LL. crepantare, fr. L. crepans, p. pr. of crepare to break, crack, rattle. Cf. Crevice, Crepitate. ] Cowardly; fainthearted; spiritless. “His craven heart.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The poor craven bridegroom said never a word. Sir. W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

In craven fear of the sarcasm of Dorset. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Formerly written also cravant and cravent. ] A recreant; a coward; a weak-hearted, spiritless fellow. See Recreant, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

King Henry. Is it fit this soldier keep his oath?
Fluellen. He is a craven and a villain else. Shak.

Syn. -- Coward; poltroon; dastard. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cravened p. pr. & vb. n. Cravening. ] To make recreant, weak, spiritless, or cowardly. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

There is a prohibition so divine,
That cravens my weak hand. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. extra- + L. vena vein. ] Let out of the veins. [ Obs. ] “Extravenate blood.” Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. of Grave, v. t. Carved. [ 1913 Webster ]

Graven image, an idol; an object of worship carved from wood, stone, etc. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.” Ex. xx. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being grave. [ 1913 Webster ]

His sables and his weeds,
Importing health and graveness. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So called because it came from Gravenstein, a place in Schleswig. Downing. ] A kind of fall apple, marked with streaks of deep red and orange, and of excellent flavor and quality. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Within the veins. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Administered by injection into a vein; as, an intravenous antibiotic infusion. [ PJC ]

a. Within or between ventricles. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ Par + aventure. ] Peradventure; perchance. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ravened p. pr. & vb. n. Ravening. ] [ Written also ravin, and ravine. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To obtain or seize by violence. Hakewill. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To devour with great eagerness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like rats that ravin down their proper bane. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. hræfn; akin to D. raaf, G. rabe, OHG. hraban, Icel. hrafn, Dan. ravn, and perhaps to L. corvus, Gr. ko`rax. √19. ] (Zool.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sea raven (Zool.), the cormorant. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of the color of the raven; jet black; as, raven curls; raven darkness. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. ravine impetuosity, violence, F. ravine ravine. See Ravine, Rapine. ] [ Written also ravin, and ravine. ] 1. Rapine; rapacity. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Prey; plunder; food obtained by violence. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To prey with rapacity; to be greedy; to show rapacity. [ Written also ravin, and ravine. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Benjamin shall raven as a wolf. Gen. xlix. 27. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Malagasy. ] (Bot.) A genus of plants related to the banana. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Ravenala Madagascariensis, the principal species, is an unbranched tree with immense oarlike leaves growing alternately from two sides of the stem. The sheathing bases of the leafstalks collect and retain rain water, which flows freely when they are pierced with a knife, whence the plant is called traveler's tree. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who, or that which, ravens or plunders. Gower. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A bird of prey, as the owl or vulture. [ Obs. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Greedily devouring; rapacious; as, ravening wolves. -- Rav"en*ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. Eagerness for plunder; rapacity; extortion. Luke xi. 39. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From 2d Raven. ] 1. Devouring with rapacious eagerness; furiously voracious; hungry even to rage; as, a ravenous wolf or vulture. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Eager for prey or gratification; as, a ravenous appetite or desire. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Rav"en*ous*ly, adv. -- Rav"en*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. G. ravenstuch. ] A fine quality of sailcloth. Ham. Nav. Encyc. [ 1913 Webster ]