ravish

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To seize and carry away by violence

   To seize and carry away by violence; to snatch by force.

   • Again, he refers to "such ministers as discharge their ministry amiss; ravishing away the goods of the widows and fatherless; and serve themselves, not others out of those things which they have received.
   • The Franks ravished it from Muslim hands in the first decade of the sixth century, and the eyes of Islam were swollen with weeping for it; it was one of its griefs.
2. 2

   To transport with joy or delight

   To transport with joy or delight; to delight to ecstasy.

   • That in things that do ravish with delight, men were not Masters of themselves, nor could they remember Gallateo's Rules; and that in time of Carnival, it was lawful to commit exorbitances.
   • […] and whilst he is observing how beautifully they are adorned therewith, his heart is ravished with them.
   • Sweeter than the muſk of Tatar, the morning breeze from the navel of every flower raviſhed perfume.
3. 3

   To rape.

   • For loe that Guest would beare her forcibly, / And meant to ravish her, that rather had to dy.
   • Their children also shalbe dashed to pieces before their eyes, their houses shalbe spoiled, & their wiues rauished.
   • hee ravished her, and ravished her that was an Amazon, and therefore had gotten a habit of stoutness above the nature of a woman; but having ravished her, he got a childe of her.
4. ›+ 1 more definitionshow fewer

   1. 4

      To have vigorous sexual intercourse with.

The neighborhood

• synonymabripe
• neighborrape
• neighborusurp