ravish

present singular third person ravishes · participle present ravishing · participle past ravished · past ravished

1. archaicliteraryTo seize and carry away by violence; to snatch by force.

   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.

   2015, Alfred J. Andrea, The Human Record: Sources of Global History, Volume I: To 1500

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   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.

   1862, H. L. Hastings, Pauline Theology, page 61

   The French Government had not taken regular possession of it when the war with England broke out; and Bonaparte hastened to sell that Province to the Americans, who had already cast their eyes upon it, with the view both of preventing the English from ravishing it from him, and of procuring funds to carry on the war.

   1901, Thomas Henry Dyer, A History of Modern Europe from the Fall of Constantinople: 1789-1815

   Synonyms: abduct, kidnap

2. transitiveusually passive voiceTo transport with joy or delight; to delight to ecstasy.

   Sweeter than the muſk of Tatar, the morning breeze from the navel of every flower raviſhed perfume.

   1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page iv

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   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.

   1669, Trafano Bocalini, translated by Henry Earl of Monmouth, Advertisements from Parnassus: In Two Centuries, translation of original in Italian

   […] and whilst he is observing how beautifully they are adorned therewith, his heart is ravished with them.

   1768, John Gill, An exposition of the book of Solomon's Song

   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.

   1873, Jules Verne, chapter 9, in Around the World in 80 Days, archived from the original on 12 Apr 2012

   He tore at the pins in her hair to set her waves free so he could fist the fiery curls in his hand and hold her lips tight and still beneath his, relentlessly ravishing her kiss the same way he planned on ravishing her body.

   2015, Anna Harrington, Dukes Are Forever

3. datedtransitiveTo rape.

   For loe that Guest would beare her forcibly, / And meant to ravish her, that rather had to dy.

   1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.x

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   Their children also shalbe dashed to pieces before their eyes, their houses shalbe spoiled, & their wiues rauished.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 13:16

   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.

   1655, Philip Sidney, The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia

   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.

   1759, Voltaire, chapter 8, in Candide, archived from the original on 03 Sep 2010

   When I heard her footsteps I was shaking, hot with desire and now I wish to describe a feeling I then first began to notice in myself. I longed to take possession of the girl, so to speak, abruptly, ravish her in fact, or at least thrust both hands up her dress at once and feel her bottom and sex altogether; but already I knew enough to realise certainly that girls prefer gentle and courteous approaches

   1922, Frank Harris, “X”, in My Life and Loves

   Synonyms: outrage, ravage, violate, abuse, constuprate, defile, defoul, dishonour

4. informalTo have vigorous sexual intercourse with.