Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Ravish"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Ravish \Rav"ish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ravished}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Ravishing}.] [OE. ravissen, F. ravir, fr. L. rapere to
snatch or tear away, to ravish. See {Rapacious}, {Rapid}, and
{-ish}.]
1. To seize and carry away by violence; to snatch by force.
These hairs which thou dost ravish from my chin Will
quicken, and accuse thee. --Shak.
This hand shall ravish thy pretended right.
--Dryden.
2. To transport with joy or delight; to delight to ecstasy.
``Ravished . . . for the joy.'' --Chaucer.
Thou hast ravished my heart. --Cant. iv. 9.
3. To have carnal knowledge of (a woman) by force, and
against her consent; to rape. --Shak.
Syn: To transport; entrance; enrapture; delight; violate;
deflour; force.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
ravish
v 1: assault sexually; force to have sex [syn: {rape}, {violate},
{dishonor}, {dishonour}, {outrage}]
2: hold spellbound [syn: {enchant}, {enrapture}, {transport}, {enthrall},
{enthral}, {delight}] [ant: {disenchant}]
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