ravish

[ rav-ish ]

/ ˈræv ɪʃ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ravish ON THESAURUS.COM

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).

Nearby words

ravin, ravine, ravined, raving, ravioli, ravish, ravishing, ravishment, raw, raw bar, raw deal

Origin of ravish

1250–1300; Middle English ravishen < Middle French raviss-, long stem of ravir to seize ≪ Latin rapere; see rape¹

SYNONYMS FOR ravish

1 enrapture, transport, enthrall, delight, captivate.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ravish ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

rav·ished·ly, adverbrav·ish·er, nounun·rav·ished, adjective

Can be confused

ravage ravish

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ravish

The danger of those contagious diseases which ravish childhood would be greatly reduced.
Civics and Health|William H. Allen
A few days ago, at Corinth, Tiberius attempted to ravish the wife of Democides, and her husband came in upon them.
Proofs of a Conspiracy against all the Religions and Governments of Europe|John Robison
I am ravish'd With the excess of joy:—speak, happy daughters, The blest event.
The Plays of Philip Massinger|Philip Massinger
By her side was the guitar on which she had been practising the airs that were to ravish the ears of the cognoscenti.
Zicci, Complete|Edward Bulwer-Lytton

There are scenes there which ravish you, only it is necessary that there should be some one with you that can understand you.
The Eustace Diamonds|Anthony Trollope

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

ravisher, nounravishment, noun

Word Origin for ravish

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