ravage

Everyday

1. To damage or destroy something badly: «The storm ravaged the coast.» tree →
2. (the ravages of) The very bad effects of something over time: «the ravages of war», «the ravages of time». tree →

In the lessons

In history and geography lessons wars, fires, floods, diseases and pests ravage lands; in stories it shows terrible destruction. Phrases: «ravaged by war», «ravaged by fire», «the ravages of time».

Examples

• Bushfires ravaged huge areas of Australia. tree →
• The town was ravaged by war. tree →
• Locusts ravaged the farmers' crops. tree →
• The old castle shows the ravages of time. tree →
• A terrible disease ravaged Europe in the 1300s. tree →
• The hurricane ravaged the islands. tree →
• Passing through the woody district of Crommyon Theseus next slew a wild and dangerous sow which had long ravaged the country. tree →

Note

The noun is almost always plural: «the ravages of». Do not confuse «ravage» (destroy) with «ravish» or «ravenous» (very hungry). Stress: RAV-ij.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: The psalm pictures Israel as a vine that a wild boar tears up. This is read as the nations harming Israel. In the primary lessons: In history and geography lessons wars, fires, floods, diseases and pests ravage lands; in stories it shows terrible destruction. Phrases: «ravaged by war», «ravaged by fire», «the ravages of time».

Examples

• The boar out of the wood doth ravage it, that which moveth in the field feedeth on it. (Writings PSA.80.14, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

The noun is almost always plural: «the ravages of». Do not confuse «ravage» (destroy) with «ravish» or «ravenous» (very hungry). Stress: RAV-ij.