transitive verb

1. to eat or eat up hungrily, greedily, or voraciously
2. to consume or destroy with devastating force
3. to take in greedily with the eyes, ears, or mind the child devours fairy tales
4. to absorb completely; engross devoured by curiosity
5. to swallow up; engulf

Etymology: ME devouren < OFr devorer < L devorare < de-, intens. + vorare, to swallow whole: see voracious