Definition of feed on

"Feed on" originates from the Old English word "fēdan," meaning "to nourish" or "to give food to." The "on" in "feed on" is a preposition indicating the object of the action, similar to "eat on" or "live on." The phrase likely evolved from the concept of animals consuming food for sustenance. Over time, it broadened to encompass any act of taking in or consuming something for sustenance, including abstract things like information or emotions.