praeda

Praeda is a Latin noun meaning spoils of war, booty, loot, or prey. In classical usage, it denotes wealth seized in conquest or raid, and can also refer to prey obtained through hunting. The term appears across genres, from military annals to legal and rhetorical works, where praeda is often contrasted with the spoils of peace or legitimate tribute.

Grammatically, praeda is feminine and belongs to the first declension. In singular: nominative praeda, genitive praedae. In plural: nominative praedae, genitive praedarum. The word is frequently used in contexts describing war booty, but it also occurs in broader senses of prey or prize acquired by effort or victory.

Etymology and derivatives: The word gives rise to English predatory terms such as predator and predation, which derive from Latin praedator and praedatio, forms linked to praeda by the same root meaning “booty” or “plunder.” In Latin literature, praeda is commonly connected with verbs meaning to seize, carry off, or bring back as booty.

Usage and context: In classical texts, praeda often denotes material wealth taken in war or raid and carried back to a community or commander. It can also function as a general term for prey in hunting. In later Latin, the word remains a standard reference for loot and the economic dimensions of conquest, distinct from other forms of wealth such as tribute or tax.