ravish

[ rav-ish ]

verb (used with object)

1. to fill with strong emotion, especially joy.

   Synonyms: captivate, delight, enthrall, transport, enrapture

2. to seize and carry off by force.
3. to carry off (a woman) by force.
4. to rape (a woman).

ravish

/ ˈrævɪʃ /

verb

1. often passive to give great delight to; enrapture
2. to rape
3. archaic.
   to carry off by force

Derived Forms

• ˈravishment, noun
• ˈravisher, noun

Other Words From

• ravished·ly adverb
• ravish·er noun
• un·ravished adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ravish¹

1250–1300; Middle English ravishen < Middle French raviss-, long stem of ravir to seize ≪ Latin rapere; rape ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ravish¹

C13: from Old French ravir , from Latin rapere to seize

Example Sentences

Hughes’s paintings are ravishing merely as color-blending exercises, but their layered depths have poignant human significance.

From Washington Post

Next they wanted to know if Hill had told "the black men to ravish all the white women."

From The Daily Beast

The remembrance of these times of happiness and innocence frequently returning to my mind, both ravish and affect me.

From Project Gutenberg

Thy voice sends forth such music, that I never Was ravish'd with a more celestial sound.

From Project Gutenberg

Callot's men are users of the wheel and the estrapade; they roast the husband while they ravish the wife.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a feat altogether to ravish a delighted father's heart, and no wonder that he counted John so great a comfort.

From Project Gutenberg

The perfect symmetry of this marvellous structure would ravish Michel Angelo.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bewitch
• enthrall
• spellbind