Definition
To seize and carry away forcefully; to overwhelm with emotion or delight; also has an archaic meaning relating to violence (which is avoided in modern usage).
Etymology
From Old French 'ravir' (to seize), from Latin 'rapere' (to seize or snatch). The modern positive sense (to delight) developed as a poetic use, while the darker historical meaning came from the literal sense of forceful taking.
Kelly Says
This word has a troubled history—it originally meant violent abduction, which is why it's barely used today. Modern English poets prefer it in the sense of 'ravished by beauty,' but the dark original meaning shows how important context is when reading old literature.
Translations
ARالعربية
يُبهِج
yu-beh-ihj
BNবাংলা
মুগ্ধ করো
mugdh koroh
CACatalà
encanta
en-kan-ta
CSČeština
okouzlit
o-koo-zlit
DADansk
forføre
for-vo-re
DEDeutsch
bezaubern
bay-tsau-buh-rn
ELΕλληνικά
ενθουσιάσει
en-thou-see
ESEspañol
enamorar
en-a-mo-rar
FAفارسی
心を मोहित करना
se-n-e-m mo-hit kar-na
FISuomi
ihastuttaa
i-hast-ut-taa
FRFrançais
enchanter
on-sahn-truh
GUGU
મોહિત કરો
moh-it ka-ro
HEעברית
להפתיע
le-haf-tee-eh
HUMagyar
elvarázsol
el-va-raz-sol
IDBahasa Indonesia
membiuskan
mem-bee-us-kan
ITItaliano
incantare
in-kan-ta-reh
KO한국어
환하게 즐겁게 하다
hwan-ha-ge jeul-geop-ge ha-da
MSBahasa Melayu
membiuskan
mem-bee-us-kan
MYမြန်မာ
လျှောက်လျောက်
l-yaw-k-l-yaw-k
NLNederlands
betoveren
be-to-ve-ren
NONorsk
forføre
for-vo-re
PLPolski
zafascynować
za-fas-chi-no-vat
PTPortuguês
encanta
en-kan-ta
RORomână
încânta
in-kan-ta
RUРусский
поразить
po-ra-zit
SVSvenska
förälska
for-al-ska
SWKiswahili
fanya mtu awe na furaha
fa-nya m-tu a-we na fu-ra-ha
TAதமிழ்
சரணடை
sa-ra-na-dai
TEతెలుగు
చూపులో పడవేయండి
choo-pu-lo pa-da-vay-andi
TLTL
pamamangha
pa-ma-man-ga
TRTürkçe
büyülemek
byoo-yuh-lek
UKУкраїнська
зачарувати
za-charu-vaty
URاردو
دل دھڑکائیں
dil dhad-kai-en
VITiếng Việt
làm say đắm
lam say dam
ZH中文
使人着迷
shǐ rén zhuó mí
ZUZU
ukuthula
koo-thoo-la
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Modern usage centers on forced sexual assault; historically 'ravish' was feminized in victim narratives, rendering women passive while intensifying male predation rhetoric.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'captivate' or 'enchant' for beauty; avoid entirely in assault contexts—use specific language like 'assault' or 'coerce'.
Inclusive Alternatives
["captivate","enchant","delight"]