Ravage

GRE 蓝宝 Barron

[编辑] 解释

I. noun

Etymology: French, from Middle French, from ravir to ravish — more at ravish
Date: circa 1611
1. an act or practice of ravaging
2. damage resulting from ravaging ; violently destructive effect <the ravages of time>

II. verb (ravaged; ravaging)

Date: circa 1611
transitive verb
- to wreak havoc on ; affect destructively <a land ravaged by war>
intransitive verb
- to commit destructive actions
? ravagement noun
? ravager noun
Synonyms:
- ravage, devastate, waste, sack, pillage, despoil mean to lay waste by plundering or destroying. ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction <a hurricane ravaged the coast>. devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area<an earthquake devastated the city>. waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action<years of drought had wasted the area>. sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place<barbarians sacked ancient Rome>. pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack<settlements pillaged by Vikings>. despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction<the Nazis despoiled the art museums>.