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ravish

 - 4 dictionary results

rav⋅ish

  [rav-ish]
Use ravish in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to fill with strong emotion, esp. joy.
2. to seize and carry off by force.
3. to carry off (a woman) by force.
4. to rape (a woman).
Origin:
1250–1300; ME ravishen < MF raviss-, long s. of ravir to seize ≪ L rapere; see rape 1

Related forms:
rav⋅ished⋅ly, adverb
rav⋅ish⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. enrapture, transport, enthrall, delight, captivate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To ravish
rav·ish   (rāv'ĭsh)   
tr.v.   rav·ished, rav·ish·ing, rav·ish·es

  1. To seize and carry away by force.

  2. To force (another) to have sexual intercourse; rape.

  3. To overwhelm with emotion; enrapture. See Synonyms at enrapture.


[Middle English ravisshen, from Old French ravir, raviss-, from Vulgar Latin *rapīre, from Latin rapere, to seize; see rep- in Indo-European roots.]
rav'ish·er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

ravish 
c.1300, "to seize (someone) by violence, carry (a person, esp. a woman) away," from O.Fr. raviss-, prp. stem of ravir "to seize, take away hastily," from V.L. *rapire, from L. rapere "to seize, hurry away" (see rapid). Meaning "to commit rape upon" is recorded from 1436. Ravishing "act of plundering" is from c.1300; in the sense of "enchanting" it is attested from c.1430, from notion of "carrying off from earth to heaven" (c.1330).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: rav·ish
Pronunciation: 'ra-vish
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, to seize and take away by violence, from Middle French raviss-, stem of ravir, ultimately from Latin rapere to seize, rob
: RAPE —rav·ish·ment noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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