Ravish
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /ˈɹæ.vɪʃ/
Origin
From Anglo-Norman, from Old French raviss-, present participle stem of ravir ("to seize, take away hastily"), from Late Latin *rapire, from Latin rapere.
Full definition of ravish
Verb
- (obsolete or archaic) To seize and carry away by violence; to snatch by force.
- (transitive, usually passive) To transport with joy or delight; to delight to ecstasy.
- 1873, Jules Verne, Around the World in 80 Days Chapter 9, Passepartout was ravished to behold this celebrated place, and thought that, with its circular walls and dismantled fort, it looked like an immense coffee-cup and saucer.
- (transitive, now rare) To rape.
- 1759, Voltaire, Candide Chapter 8, A tall Bulgarian soldier, six feet high, perceiving that I had fainted away at this sight, attempted to ravish me; the operation brought me to my senses. I cried, I struggled, I bit, I scratched, I would have torn the tall Bulgarian’s eyes out, not knowing that what had happened at my father’s castle was a customary thing.
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.x:For loe that Guest would beare her forcibly,
And meant to ravish her, that rather had to dy.