捕食する
解説 Definition
preying は prey（捕食する、獲物を狙う）の現在分詞・動名詞です。動物が他の動物を捕まえて食べる動作を表し、通常は preying on の形で対象を示します。
Hunting, capturing, and feeding on another animal as a source of food. This present-participle or gerund form of prey is normally followed by on when the animal being hunted is identified.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
prey（獲物を捕らえて食べる）に -ing をそのまま付けた現在分詞・動名詞です。語末の y は母音字の後にあり、この形では変えません。通常は prey on ～「～を捕食する」と使い、a hawk preying on birds のように捕食者と獲物を一組で思い浮かべます。pray「祈る」と同音なので綴りに注意します。
Preying is formed by adding -ing directly to prey; the y remains unchanged. Remember the fixed pattern prey on: a hawk preying on small birds or foxes preying on rabbits. Build a mental two-part scene with a predator first and its prey after on. This keeps the biological meaning clear and makes the preposition easier to recall. Prey and pray are pronounced alike, but only prey is connected with predators and food; pray concerns worship or a serious request. Preying can describe an action in progress or function as a gerund naming the activity.
例文
The hawk was preying on small birds near the field.
そのタカは畑の近くで小鳥を捕食していました。
Scientists observed foxes preying on rabbits at night.
科学者たちは、夜にキツネがウサギを捕食する様子を観察しました。
The fish survive by preying on tiny insects in the water.
その魚は水中の小さな昆虫を捕食して生きています。
preying の類義語・関連語
類義語
対義語
紛らわしい語
preying の語源・成り立ち Etymology
古フランス語 preier を経てラテン語 praeda（獲物、戦利品）に由来。prae-（前に）+ hendere（つかむ）が語源で、「前もってつかみ取る」が原義。関連語に predator（捕食者）、depredation（略奪）がある。獲物を狙い捕らえる行為を表す。
Preying is the present-participle form of prey. English prey came through Old French from Latin praeda, meaning “booty, plunder, or captured game.” The noun first referred broadly to something seized, while the verb developed the sense of taking animals as food. In modern biological use, prey on identifies the organism hunted and eaten. The same Latin base is also represented in predator and predation.
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