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ravish

Archaic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

An archaic verb meaning to seize or carry off by force; in poetic contexts, it often connotes abduction, violent passion, or involuntary transport.

Detailed Definition
In early modern English, ravish could mean to seize, carry away, or overwhelm violently. Donne uses it in a shocking spiritual paradox, asking God to overpower him so he can become pure.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me” uses an older, sexually violent sense that requires historical care; “The storm ravished the orchard, leaving branches torn” shows the verb’s older sense of seize or devastate; “Sunlight ravished the darkened room” reflects a poetic but potentially troubling figurative use; “Contemporary poets often avoid ravish because its modern meaning strongly implies sexual assault”
Additional Notes
“Ravish” has an older, specialized sense here that differs from its more familiar modern associations.; Found in the poem, Batter my heart, three-person'd God by John Donne
Also Known As
enchant seize
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