Ravish: meaning, definitions and examples

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ravish

 

[ ˈrævɪʃ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

intense pleasure

To ravish means to seize and carry off by force or to delight intensely. It often carries connotations of overwhelming joy or ecstasy. In literature, it can describe a state of being entranced or crushed by a powerful emotion, usually love or beauty. The word has historical roots in expressions of both violence and sheer pleasure, depending on the context.

Synonyms

delight, enrapture, overwhelm, transport.

Examples of usage

  • The sunset ravished my senses.
  • She was ravished by the beauty of the landscape.
  • His performance ravished the audience.
  • The poem ravishes the heart.

Translations

Translations of the word "ravish" in other languages:

🇵🇹 raptar

🇮🇳 लूटना

🇩🇪 rauben

🇮🇩 merampok

🇺🇦 викрадати

🇵🇱 porywać

🇯🇵 誘拐する

🇫🇷 ravir

🇪🇸 raptar

🇹🇷 kaçırmak

🇰🇷 유괴하다

🇸🇦 اختطاف

🇨🇿 unést

🇸🇰 uniesť

🇨🇳 掳走

🇸🇮 ukrasti

🇮🇸 ræna

🇰🇿 ұрлау

🇬🇪 მოსული

🇦🇿 qarət etmək

🇲🇽 raptar

Etymology

The word 'ravish' originates from the Old French 'ravir', which means 'to seize' or 'to carry away,' derived from the Latin 'rapere,' meaning 'to snatch' or 'to seize.' The Latin root has associations with forceful actions, often linked to the idea of taking something by surprise or by swift force. In Middle English, the term took on a dual meaning, evolving from a more violent context to one that expresses overwhelming delight or ecstasy. Over time, 'ravish' became associated more with emotional experiences, especially in poetry and literature, where it is often used to describe how beauty or love can overpower a person’s senses or emotions. Today, while it can still imply something unwanted or forced in some contexts, it is more popularly used in the realm of art and nature, indicating profound joy and admiration.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,267 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.