Ravish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ravished; p. pr. & vb. n. Ravishing.]
Etymology: [OE. ravissen, F. ravir, fr. L. rapere to snatch or tear away, to ravish. See Rapacious, Rapid, and -ish.]
1. To seize and carry away by violence; to snatch by force. These hairs which thou dost ravish from my chin Will quicken, and accuse thee. Shak. This hand shall ravish thy pretended right. Dryden.
2. To transport with joy or delight; to delight to ecstasy. "Ravished . . . for the joy." Chaucer. Thou hast ravished my heart. Cant. iv. 9.
3. To have carnal knowledge of (a woman) by force, and against her consent; to rape. Shak.
Syn. -- To transport; entrance; enrapture; delight; violate; deflour; force.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for ravish; he lists it under abuse.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.