'rapacious' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'rapax', where 'rapere' meant 'to seize'.

'rapax' transformed into the French word 'rapace', and eventually became the modern English word 'rapacious' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'to seize or take by force', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'aggressively greedy or grasping'.