Rav"age (?; 48), n. [F., fr. (assumed) L. rapagium, rapaticum, fr. rapere to carry off by force, to ravish. See Rapacious, Ravish.]

Desolation by violence; violent ruin or destruction; devastation; havoc; waste; as, the ravage of a lion; the ravages of fire or tempest; the ravages of an army, or of time.

<-- ravages of time -->

Would one think 't were possible for love To make such ravage in a noble soul? Addison.

Syn. -- Despoilment; devastation; desolation; pillage; plunder; spoil; waste; ruin.

 

© Webster 1913.


Rav"age, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ravaged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ravaging (?).] [F. ravager. See Ravage, n.]

To lay waste by force; to desolate by violence; to commit havoc or devastation upon; to spoil; to plunder; to consume.

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

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

Syn. -- To despoil; pillage; plunger; sack; spoil; devastate; desolate; destroy; waste; ruin.

 

© Webster 1913.