a. [f. L. edāci- (nom. edax), f. edĕre to eat + -OUS.]
1. Of or relating to eating; devoted to eating, voracious. Now chiefly humorous.
1829. I. Taylor, Enthus., viii. 199. Our … high-toned irritability, edacious appetites, and pampered constitutions.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., III. IX. viii. 135. Who shall judge him?—transcendent King of edacious Flunkies.
1866. R. Chambers, Ess., Ser. II. 182. His edacious peculiarities—whether … he was … most partial to lamb or turkey.
b. fig. Greedy, eager.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., V. XIII. v. 62. These words Hyndford listened to with an edacious solid countenance. Ibid. (1866), Remin. (1881), I. 259. A hardy little figure, of edacious energetic physiognomy.
2. Said of time. (After L. tempus edax rerum.)
1819. H. Busk, Banquet, I. 372. Edacious Time has all his works consumed.
1862. Lowell, Biglow P., Ser. II. 31. Concord Bridge had long since yielded to the edacious tooth of Time.
1865. Pall Mall Gaz., 8 April, 4/1. Edacious Time too visibly devours her last charm.
