ravish

verb

rav·​ish ˈra-vish 

ravished; ravishing; ravishes

transitive verb

1

a

: to seize and take away by violence

b

: to overcome with emotion (such as joy or delight)

ravished by the scenic beauty

c

: rape entry 1 sense 1

2

: plunder, rob

ravisher noun

ravishment

ˈra-vish-mənt 

noun

Synonyms

• assault
• force
• rape
• violate

Examples of ravish in a Sentence

invaders guilty of murdering and ravishing villagers

travelers have long been ravished with wonder and awe by the immensity of the Great Pyramid at Giza

Recent Examples on the Web

To be sure, future creatives at Dries Van Noten arrive at a house synonymous with ravishing colors, striking prints and dignified dressing tinged with exotic details and embroideries. —Miles Socha, WWD, 21 June 2024

Selena Gomez is ravishing in red at the Cannes Film Festival! —Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 19 May 2024

Bear Mountain Trail, Connecticut While the tallest peak in the state offers ravishing views of the Berkshires in Massachusetts to the north and New York’s Catskills to the west, getting there is equally exhilarating. —Lauren Matison, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Jan. 2023

Music All of Billie Eilish’s senses are alive on the ravishing ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ May 17, 2024 Ernest feat. —Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ravisshen "to seize forcefully, plunder, carry away, carry off (a woman) in order to sexually assault her, seize as prey, carry up (into heaven), enrapture, sweep along," borrowed from Anglo-French raviss-, stem of ravir (also continental Old & Middle French), going back to Vulgar Latin *rapīre, re-formation of Latin rapere "to seize and carry off, take away by force, carry off a woman with the intent of sexually assaulting her, carry or sweep along, impel forcibly (to a course of conduct), snatch up, gather quickly" — more at rapid entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

ravish

verb

rav·​ish ˈrav-ish 

1

: to seize and take away by violence

2

: rape sense 2

3

: to overcome with a feeling and especially a feeling of joy or delight

ravisher noun

Legal Definition

ravish

transitive verb

rav·​ish ˈra-vish 

: rape

ravishment noun

Etymology

Middle English, to seize and take away by violence, from Middle French raviss-, stem of ravir, ultimately from Latin rapere to seize, rob