I.abl. sing. PRAEDAD. Inscr. Col. Rostr.), f. for praehenda, from praehendo, v. prehendo, property taken in war, booty, spoil, plunder, pillage (syn.: exuviae, spolium).
I. Lit.: praedā exercitus undat, Enn. ap. Serv. ad Verg. G. 2, 437 (Ann. v. 320 Vahl.): “praedas ac manubias in urbis ornamenta conferre,” Cic. Agr. 2, 23, 61; cf. manubiae, and the passages there cited with praeda; so plur.: “praedarum in parte repertā frangebat pocula,” Juv. 11, 101.—Mostly sing.: “praeda ante parta,” Cic. Prov. Cons. 11, 28: praedam capere de praedonibus Plaut. Truc. 1, 2, 14: “praedam militibus donare,” Caes. B. G. 7, 11 fin.: “victores praedā spoliisque potiti,” Verg. A. 9, 450.—
II. Transf.
A. An animal, bird, etc., caught or killed in the chase; prey, game (poet. and in postAug. prose): “cervi luporum praeda rapacium,” Hor. C. 4, 4, 50; Phaedr. 1, 5; Verg. A. 3, 223; Plin. 8, 55, 81, § 219; “of fishing,” Plaut. Rud. 4, 2, 4; Ov. M. 13, 936: in saltu venantur aves; “hinc praeda cubili Ponitur,” Juv. 14, 82.—Prov.: “praeda canum lepus est,” Mart. 1, 22, 5.—Transf., of a person, prey, Plaut. Ps. 4, 7, 23; Ov. H. 15, 51.—
B. In gen., booty, spoil, gain, profit: “illa, quae empta ex praedā est,” Plaut. Ep. 5, 1, 2; 15; 3, 3, 13: “adeste, sultis, praeda erit praesentium,” id. Stich. 1, 3, 67: “maximos quaestus praedasque facere,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 50, § 119; Hor. S. 2, 3, 68: “ostendit praedam,” treasure trove, Phaedr. 5, 6, 4: “a quibus magnas praedas Agesilaus faciebat,” from which Agesilaus drew great advantage, Nep. Chabr. 2, 3; cf. Plin. 26, 1, 3, § 4.
