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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Ravage

Rāv'age, n.

noun

n. [Fr. ravage, Lat. as if rapagium, rapaticum, from rapere, to carry off by force, to ravish, rapax, rapacis, rapacious, Fr. ravir, to ravish.] Desolation by violence; violent ruin or destruction; devastation; havoc; waste; ruin; decay; as, the ravage of a lion; the ravages of fire or tempest; the ravages of an army, or of time.

Would one think 'twere possible for love To make such ravage in a noble soul? Addison.

Synonyms—Despoilment; devastation; desolation; pillage; plunder; spoil; waste; ruin.

Rāv'age, v. t.

verbtransitive

[imp. & p. p. RAVAGED; p. pr. & vb. n. RAVAGING.] [Fr. ravager, from ravage. See supra.] To lay waste by force; to desolate violently; to commit havoc or devastation upon; to spoil; to plunder; to consume.

Already Cæsar Has ravaged more than half the globe. Addison.

His lands were daily ravaged, his cattle driven away. Macaulay.

Synonyms—To despoil; pillage; plunder; sack; spoil; devastate; desolate; destroy; waste; ruin.