Ravish Definition
răvĭsh
ravished, ravishes, ravishing
verb
ravished, ravishes, ravishing
To rape (a woman)
Webster's New World
To seize and carry away forcibly.
Webster's New World
To transport with joy or delight; enrapture.
Webster's New World
To take by force or seize is the literal meaning of the word. It is generally synonymous with rape. Traditionally, an indictment for rape demanded inclusion of the word ravished, which implied use of force and or violence by the man and resistance by the female.
Webster's New World Law
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Origin of Ravish
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Middle English ravishen from Old French ravir raviss- from Vulgar Latin rapīre from Latin rapere to seize rep- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Anglo-Norman, from Old French raviss-, present participle stem of ravir (“to seize, take away hastily"), from Late Latin *rapire, from Latin rapere.
From Wiktionary
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