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ravish Definition

rav·ish (ravis̸h)

transitive verb

  1. to seize and carry away forcibly
  2. to rape (a woman)
  3. to transport with joy or delight; enrapture

Etymology: ME ravishen < inflectional stem of OFr ravir, to carry away < VL *rapire, for L rapere, to seize: see rape

ravish Related Forms
rav·isher noun rav·ish·ment noun
ravish Synonyms

ravish

v.

  1. To charm

    delight, please, enchant, enrapture, bewitch, captivate, attract, allure, enthrall, hold, draw, mesmerize, magnetize, hypnotize, transport; see also charm 1, fascinate.

  2. To rape

    abduct, violate, deflower, seduce; see rape.

ravish Law Definition

v

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.
ravish Usage Examples

Object

  • sense: They have created a performance that will ravish the senses.
  • woman: The city will be taken, the horses plundered, the women ravished.
  • heart: This ravished the heart of David with an inexpressible affection.
  • land: The Nemean lion is a symbol of the fierce and devastating summer heat that ravishes the land.

Modifying Another Word

  • so: CASTIZA Give me hearing, sir: But far from my consent, I was surpris'd By villains, and so ravish 'd.
  • utterly: If you haven't downloaded the utterly ravishing 6 minute preview, do so now.
ravish Quotes

Take me toYou, imprison me, for I, Except You enthrall me, never shall be free, Nor ever chaste, except You ravish me.

—Donne,John

Fhairshon swore a feud Against the clan M'Tavish; Marched into their land To murder and to ravish; For he did resolve To extirpate the vipers, With four-and-twenty men And five-and-thirty pipers.

—Aytoun,William Edmonstoune

Browse dictionary entries near ravish

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  6. ravenous
  7. Ravenna
  8. ravening
  9. raven
  10. ravelment
  1. ravishing
  2. raw
  3. raw bar
  4. raw material
  5. raw silk
  6. Rawalpindi
  7. rawboned
  8. rawhide
  9. rawin
  10. rawinsonde