ransack
[ ran-sak ]
/ ˈræn sæk /
verb (used with object)
to search thoroughly or vigorously through (a house, receptacle, etc.): They ransacked the house for the missing letter.
to search through for plunder; pillage: The enemy ransacked the entire town.
Origin of ransack
1200–50; Middle English
ransaken < Old Norse
rannsaka to search, examine (for evidence of crime), equivalent to
rann house +
saka search (variant of
soekja to
seek)
OTHER WORDS FROM ransack
ran·sack·er, noun un·ran·sacked, adjectiveWords nearby ransack
ranking,
ranking member,
rankism,
rankle,
rankshift,
ransack,
ransom,
ransome,
ransomware,
rant,
rant and rave
Example sentences from the Web for ransacking
British Dictionary definitions for ransacking
ransack
/ (ˈrænsæk) /
verb (tr)
to search through every part of (a house, box, etc); examine thoroughly
to plunder; pillage
Derived forms of ransack
ransacker, nounWord Origin for ransack
C13: from Old Norse
rann house +
saka to search,
seek