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ravish

[rav-ish]
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verb (used with object)
  1. to fill with strong emotion, especially joy.
  2. to seize and carry off by force.
  3. to carry off (a woman) by force.
  4. to rape (a woman).

Origin of ravish

1250–1300; Middle English ravishen < Middle French raviss-, long stem of ravir to seize ≪ Latin rapere; see rape1
Related formsrav·ished·ly, adverbrav·ish·er, nounun·rav·ished, adjective
Can be confusedravage ravish

Synonyms

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1. enrapture, transport, enthrall, delight, captivate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for ravisher

Historical Examples

  • A moment more, and a strong gripe was laid on the shoulder of the ravisher.

    Night and Morning, Complete

    Edward Bulwer-Lytton

  • Imogen insisted upon not being left wholly alone with her ravisher.

    Imogen

    William Godwin

  • But though she was melancholy, her melancholy was of a different hue from that of her ravisher.

    Imogen

    William Godwin

  • How was it that he was gone to the very banquet of the ravisher?

    Zanoni

    Edward Bulwer Lytton

  • How did he then come to be the ravisher of St and the enemy of God?

    Avatras

    Annie Besant

British Dictionary definitions for ravisher

ravish

verb (tr)
  1. (often passive) to give great delight to; enrapture
  2. to rape
  3. archaic to carry off by force
Derived Formsravisher, nounravishment, noun

Word Origin

C13: from Old French ravir, from Latin rapere to seize
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ravisher

ravish

v.

c.1300, "to seize (someone) by violence, carry (a person, especially a woman) away," from Old French raviss-, present participle stem of ravir "to seize, take away hastily," from Vulgar Latin *rapire, from Latin rapere "to seize and carry off, carry away suddenly, hurry away" (see rapid). Meaning "to commit rape upon" is recorded from mid-15c. Related: Ravished; ravishing.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper