a. Also 7 vulterous. [f. VULTURE sb. + -OUS.]
1. Resembling that of a vulture; ravenous.
1623. Webster, Duchess Malfi, II. ii. There’s no question but her techiness and most vulturous eating of the apricocks are apparent signs of breeding.
1647. Hammond, Christ. Oblig. (1649), 15. And when … he was shut up alone in the bladder, his vulturous stomack lets loose upon himself, and within few minuits more, one half of him devoures the other.
1672. Penn, Spir. Truth. Vind., 14. [It] is invisible to his vulterous Eye, who so disdainfully writes against it.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., II. iv. With such a vulturous hunger for self-indulgence.
1870. Talmage, Crumbs Swept Up (1871), 278. They watch about the door for new-comers,… invite him to drink,… and plunge their vulturous beaks into the vitals of his soul.
2. fig. Resembling a vulture in appearance or character.
1843. Carlyle, Past & Pr., IV. i. The battle, with various weapons, of vulturous Quack and Tyrant against vulturous Tyrant and Quack. Ibid. (1864), Fredk. Gt., XVI. i. IV. 243. The Owleries and the vulturous Law-Pedantries.
1885. Tennyson, Dead Prophet, vii. Then glided a vulturous Beldam forth, That on dumb death had thriven.
