French word

ravir

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁaviʁ/

Meaning

  • verbdelight

Example

Ce geste me ravit.

This gesture delighted me.

Illustration for ravir (delight)

More examples

Ça me ravit de te voir.

It delights me to see you.

Core concept

A person is swept into intense delight by an action, event, or gift.

Common phrases

  • ça me ravit

    It delights me

  • ravir ses proches

    delight one's loved ones

Similar words

plaire: To please someone by matching their tastes or preferences.
faire plaisir: To give someone pleasure or satisfaction through an act or gesture.
enchanter: To enchant someone and fill them with great joy.
charmer: To attract and please someone through charm or appealing behavior.

Definition in French

Faire éprouver à quelqu'un une joie vive ou un grand plaisir.

Word origin

Ravir comes through Old French from Latin rapere, meaning to seize, and developed the figurative sense of capturing someone's feelings with delight.

Usage tips

  • Ravir commonly takes the delighted person as a direct object, as in "Ce geste me ravit", where "me" means that the gesture delights me.

Other meanings

  • moveverb
  • stealverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word