Rav"age (răv"&asl;j; 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.
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.
Rav"age, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Ravaged (-&asl;jd); p. pr. & vb.
n. Ravaging (-&asl;*j&ibreve;ng).] [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 Cæsar
Has ravaged more than half the globe.
Addison.
His lands were daily ravaged, his cattle driven
away.
Macaulay.
Syn. -- To despoil; pillage; plunder; sack; spoil;
devastate; desolate; destroy; waste; ruin.
