Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RAV'EN, v.t. [rav'n; G. rauben; Dan. röver; Sw. roffa, rofva, to rob; Sax. reafian, hreafian. But it is more nearly allied to رَفً raffa, to eat much, to pluck off in feeding. Class Rb, No. 12. See No. 18, 19, 34.]

1. To devour with great eagerness; to eat with voracity. Our natures do pursue, / Like rats that raven down their proper bane, / A thirsty evil, and when we drink, we die. – Shak. Like a roaring lion ravening the prey. – Ezek. xxii.
2. To obtain by violence.