ravage

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishravagerav‧age /ˈrævɪdʒ/ verb [transitive] DESTROYto damage something very badly a country ravaged by civil war His health was gradually ravaged by drink and drugs.Grammar Ravage is usually passive.→ See Verb table Examples from the Corpusravage• A year ago John Holman was near death, an opportunistic infection ravaging his intestines.• In 1954 he completed the restoration of the chapel, which was ravaged by death-watch beetle.• It was thus doomed to fail-but not before it had ravaged every society it touched.• The Civil War had brought an end to that; few could now afford to leave their ravaged homes.• A ragged tear ravaged the painted face that looked back at her.• Nick made a start at restoring the ravaged wreck, but sadly died before much was done.Origin ravage (1600-1700) French ravager, from ravage "destruction", from ravir; → RAVISH

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