ravage Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (usually plural) a destructive action
    depredation.
    • the ravages of time
    • the depredations of age and disease
  2. verb make a pillaging or destructive raid on (a place), as in wartimes
    harry.
  3. verb cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly
    desolate; devastate; scourge; lay waste to; waste.
    • The enemy lay waste to the countryside after the invasion

WordNet

Rav"age noun
Etymology
F., fr. (assumed) L. rapagium, rapaticum, fr. rapere to carry off by force, to ravish. See Rapacious, Ravish.
Definitions
  1. 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. ravages 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 transitive verb
Etymology
F. ravager. See Ravage, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Ravaged ; present participle & verbal noun Ravaging
Definitions
  1. 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; plunger; sack; spoil; devastate; desolate; destroy; waste; ruin.

Webster 1913