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ravish

[ rav-ish ]
/ ˈræv ɪʃ /
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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).

RELATED WORDS

spellbind, bewitch, enthrall, draw, allure, fascinate, mesmerize, trance, captivate, please, entrance, delight, hypnotize, overjoy, charm, enrapture, hold, attract, magnetize, transport

Nearby words

  1. ravined,
  2. raving,
  3. ravingly,
  4. ravings,
  5. ravioli,
  6. ravishing,
  7. ravishingly,
  8. ravishment,
  9. raw,
  10. raw bar

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

Examples 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 Formsravisher, 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
Word Origin and History for ravish

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