ransack
[ ran-sak ]
/ ˈræn sæk /
verb (used with object)
to search thoroughly or vigorously through (a house, receptacle, etc.): They ransacked the house for the missing letter.
to search through for plunder; pillage: The enemy ransacked the entire town.
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Origin of ransack
1200–50; Middle English ransaken < Old Norse rannsaka to search, examine (for evidence of crime), equivalent to rann house + saka search (variant of soekja to seek)
OTHER WORDS FROM ransack
ran·sack·er, nounun·ran·sacked, adjectiveWords nearby ransack
ranking, ranking member, rankism, rankle, rankshift, ransack, ransom, ransome, ransomware, rant, rant and rave
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for ransack
British Dictionary definitions for ransack
ransack
/ (ˈrænsæk) /
verb (tr)
to search through every part of (a house, box, etc); examine thoroughly
to plunder; pillage
Derived forms of ransack
ransacker, nounWord Origin for ransack
C13: from Old Norse rann house + saka to search, seek
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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