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raving
ravioli
ravish
ravishing
raw
raw bar
raw deal
raw-edged
raw material
raw sienna
raw silk
Rawalpindi
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raven (1)

ra·ven [ ráyvən ]


noun  (plural ra·vens)
Definition:
 
large black bird of crow family: a large bird belonging to the crow family with glossy black feathers, a wedge-shaped tail, and a large beak. Native to: northern hemisphere.  Latin name Corvus corax.



adjective 
Definition:
 
shiny black: of a deep lustrous black ( literary )

[ Old English hræfn. Ultimately from a prehistoric Germanic word, thought to be an imitation of its croaking]

Cultural Note

The Raven, a poem (1845) by Edgar Allen Poe. This melancholy tale of lost love gained Poe national fame. As a young student mourns the death of his lover, a raven - a traditional symbol of doom - appears at his window. To every question that the student poses about his future and his lover, the bird responds "Nevermore."

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