Raptus
/ˈræp.təs/noun
A state of intense fascination or ecstasy; in historical Latin, a carrying off or seizure.
Did you know?In Latin, *raptus* is the past participle of *rapere* (“to seize, snatch, carry off”), the same root that gave English *rape*, *rapture*, and *rapacious*.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*rep-
“to snatch, seize”
Latin
Latin
rapere
“to seize, snatch, carry off”
Latin
Latin
raptus
“carried off, seized; a seizure or abduction”
Late Latin
Latin
raptura
“a carrying off; ecstasy, transport”
Old French
Old French
rapture
“a carrying off; ecstatic transport”
Middle English
English
rapture
“ecstatic delight; spellbound fascination”
Modern English
English
raptus
“a learned borrowing used in psychological, literary, or historical contexts for seizure or ecstasy”
Explore more surprising origins