ravish
[ rav-ish ]
/ ˈræv ɪʃ /
verb (used with object)
to fill with strong emotion, especially joy.
to seize and carry off by force.
to carry off (a woman) by force.
to rape (a woman).
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“I do believe that the buck stops here, that I cannot rely upon public opinion polls to tell me what is right. I do believe that right makes might and that if I am wrong, 10 angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”
Origin of ravish
1250–1300; Middle English ravishen<Middle French raviss-, long stem of ravir to seize ≪ Latin rapere;see rape1
OTHER WORDS FROM ravish
rav·ished·ly, adverbrav·ish·er, nounun·rav·ished, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ravish
ravage, ravishWords nearby ravish
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for ravish
British Dictionary definitions for ravish
ravish
/ (ˈrævɪʃ) /
verb (tr)
(often passive) to give great delight to; enrapture
to rape
archaic to carry off by force
Derived forms of ravish
ravisher, nounravishment, nounWord Origin for ravish
C13: from Old French ravir, from Latin rapere to seize
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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