Ravishing
/ˈræv.ɪ.ʃɪŋ/noun
Extremely attractive or beautiful; also causing intense delight or admiration.
Did you know?Ravishing comes from the same ancient violence-root behind words like rape and rapture, because in older usage it meant being swept away or carried off with force.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*rep-
“to snatch, seize, or carry off”
Latin
Latin
rapere
“to seize, snatch away, carry off by force”
Old French
Old French
raviss- / ravir
“to carry off, abduct; later, to delight or enchant”
Middle English
English
ravisshen / ravishen
“to carry off by force; later also to delight intensely”
16th Century
English
ravishing
“delighting or captivating to an intense degree”
Modern English
English
ravishing
“extremely beautiful or enchanting”