The ravages of language

Add comment August 8th, 2008

The adjective “ravishing” is an upbeat word. It means “causing great joy or delight; entrancing.” The most common use I’ve heard is in reference to a woman as “a ravishing beauty.”

Unfortunately, the other associations with “ravishing” are not at all nice. The verb can mean “to seize and carry away forcibly” or “to rape (a woman).”

It’s sometimes confused with “ravage,” which is “to destroy violently; ruin.” There’s a connection in violence, but they are distinctly different. For starters, “ravishing” is done to people, “ravaging” is done to things.

In the final analysis, it’s advisable to avoid “ravish” because of its negative tendencies — unless, of course, that’s exactly what you mean.