Hypertext Webster Gateway: "ransack"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Ransack \Ran"sack\, v. i.
To make a thorough search.
To ransack in the tas [heap] of bodies dead. --Chaucer.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Ransack \Ran"sack\, n.
The act of ransacking, or state of being ransacked; pillage.
[R.]
Even your father's house Shall not be free fromransack.
--J. Webster.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Ransack \Ran"sack\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ransacked}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Ransacking}.] [OE. ransaken, Icel, rannsaka to
explore, examine; rann a house (akin to Goth. razn house, AS.
r[ae]sn plank, beam) + the root of s[ae]kja to seek, akin to
E. seek. See {Seek}, and cf. {Rest} repose.]
1. To search thoroughly; to search every place or part of;
as, to ransack a house.
To ransack every corner of their . . . hearts.
--South.
2. To plunder; to pillage completely.
Their vow is made To ransack Troy. --Shak.
3. To violate; to ravish; to defiour. [Obs.]
Rich spoil of ransacked chastity. --Spenser.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
ransack
v 1: steal goods; take as spoils; "During the earthquake people
looted the stores that were deserted by their owners"
[syn: {plunder}, {despoil}, {loot}, {reave}, {strip}, {rifle},
{pillage}, {foray}]
2: search thoroughly; "They combed the area for the missing
child" [syn: {comb}]
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