ravish

[ rav-ish ]
/ ˈræv ɪʃ /
SEE 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).

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, adverb rav·ish·er, noun un·rav·ished, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ravish

ravage ravish

Words nearby ravish

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

Words related to ravish

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

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, noun ravishment, noun

Word Origin for ravish

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