ravishment
/'ræviʃmənt/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. The act of seizing and carrying away by force; abduction. This meaning, now archaic, refers to the forceful taking of a person or property. 2. The crime of forcing someone, especially a woman, to submit to sexual intercourse against their will; rape. This is a formal and legal term for the act. 3. A state of intense delight, enchantment, or ecstasy; the act of enchanting. This meaning describes an overwhelming feeling of joy or wonder, as if one's senses are captivated.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Meaning 2: Crime):
- The novel depicted the ravishment of the character as a central tragedy.
- In historical legal texts, the term "ravishment" was used to describe the crime.
- Noun (Meaning 3: Enchantment):
- She listened to the symphony with complete ravishment.
- The ravishment of the sunset over the mountains left them speechless.
Advanced Usage
- Literary/Archaic Use: The word is often found in older literary or legal contexts. In modern usage for the criminal act, "rape" or "sexual assault" are more common terms.
- Figurative Use: The third meaning is frequently used in a figurative sense to describe being captivated by beauty, art, or experience.
- The ravishment of the senses by the tropical garden was unforgettable.
Variants and Related Words
- Ravish (verb):
- To seize and carry away by force.
- To rape.
- To fill with strong emotion, especially joy; to enchant.
- Ravishing (adjective): Causing great delight or pleasure; enchanting (e.g., ).
- Ravisher (noun): One who commits ravishment.
Synonyms
- For the crime: Rape, violation, sexual assault.
- For the feeling: Ecstasy, rapture, transport, enchantment, delight.
Idioms and Phrases
- To be in a state of ravishment: To be completely enchanted or captivated.
- The audience was in a state of ravishment throughout the pianist's performance.
Noun
- the crime of forcing a woman to submit to sexual intercourse against her will
- a feeling of delight at being filled with wonder and enchantment