rap-, rav-

(Latin: tearing away, seizing, swift, rapid; snatch away, seize, carry off; from Latin rapere, "to seize by force and to carry off")

correption (s) (noun), correptions (pl)
1. An expression of criticism and disappointment because of something that someone has done which is unacceptable: The correption which Greg received from the principal, Mr. Deal, was well deserved because he was caught spray painting on the walls of one of the buildings on the school grounds.
2. Etymology: from Latin correptio, then from corripere, "to seize".
enrapt (adjective), more enrapt, most enrapt
Conveying thrill or pertaining to a state of delight or ecstasy: The enrapt visitors were in awe of the colors and depth of the canyon.

Susie's enrapt audience wanted to hear more of her singing.

enrapture (verb), enraptures; enraptured; enrapturing
1. To fill with great happiness or delight: Kim's wonderful voice enraptured the audience.
2. To have a powerful, agreeable, and often overwhelming emotional effect on people: Mary and the other school children were enraptured by the Mrs. Thompson's stories.
enraptured (adjective), more enraptured, most enraptured
1. Deeply moved: Many in the enraptured audience were greatly moved by Mrs. Stone's presentations.
2. Feeling great pleasure or delight; ecstatic, impassioned, or enthusiastic: The enraptured response of the people to the music at the concert was greatly appreciated by the conductor, Mr. Johnson, and the musicians.
fluviraption (s) (noun), fluviraptions (pl)
1. Erosion as a result of running water or wave action: The various fluviraptions in coastal areas are obviously caused by the actions of waves; especially, as a result of storms or tsunamis.
2. Washing away or the washing off of loose material; such as, earth, sand, etc. as a result of flowing water: Large waves, or a series of waves, caused by an earthquake that moved large quantities of water in the ocean, created all kinds of fluviraptions when they hit land.
nonusurping (adjective), more nonusurping, most nonusurping
Relating to the legal authorization or right to use something: The reporter made a nonusurping arrangement to write an article about the private life of a well-known movie star.
nonusurpingly (adverb), more nonusurpingly, most nonusurpingly
Pertaining to having position of something without force but by mutual agreement: The new leader of the country became the nonusurpingly president with a majority vote of the governing legislature.
rapacious (adjective), more rapacious, most rapacious
1. Characterizing a person who takes something by force and plunders it: During the riots, rapacious looters stole merchandise stores by breaking their windows and doors.
2. Relating to someone or those who are ravenous or greedy: The children ate in a rapacious way by grabbing and filling their mouths full and eating voraciously.
3. A reference to an animal that lives by preying on other animals, especially by catching live prey: The rapacious wolves devoured the deer as quickly as they could.
Seizing or taking over with violence.
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rapaciously (adverb), more rapaciously, most rapaciously
1. Pertaining to being excessively greedy and grasping: As a divorcee, she was using the court to rapaciously get more money from her husband.
3. A reference to the devouring or craving food in great quantities: Despite her liver condition, she was rapaciously eating large quantities of fatty foods.
rapaciousness (s) (noun) (no plural form)
1. A disposition to plunder or to extract (take) things by oppression: The rapaciousness of the Vandals when they attacked Rome has been recorded in history.
2. Extreme gluttony: For many people, obesity has been the result of rapaciousness in what has been eaten and the excessive quantities of their consumptions.
3. An excessive desire or greediness for wealth (usually in large amounts): The rapaciousness of some lawyers and certain business people is antagonizing more and more people; especially, those who are finding it more difficult to survive in these bad economic conditions.
rape (s) (noun), rapes (pl)
1. Any forced act of sexual intercourse that is forced upon a person against his or her will: Rape by law is an unlawful activity which is usually done with threats of injury against a person; such as, a female by a man or with a person who is under a certain age; or anyone who is incapable of consenting because of mental illness, mental deficiency, intoxication, deception, or unconsciousness.
2. An act of plunder, violent seizure, or abuse: The rape of the countryside was committed by military forces which were out of control.
3. The act of seizing and carrying off by force: History has many examples of the rapes of ancient cities.
4. Etymology: "to seize prey, to take by force," from Anglo-French raper, Old French raper, "to seize, to abduct"; a legal term, from Latin rapere, "to seize, to carry off by force, to abduct".

Latin rapere was used for "sexual violation", but only very rarely; the usual Latin word being stuprum; literally, "disgrace".

The sense of "sexual violation" or "ravishing of a woman" was first recorded in English as a noun, in 1481 A.D. The noun sense of "taking anything (including a woman) away by force" is from about 1400 A.D.

rape (verb), rapes; raped; raping
1. To force another person to submit to sex acts; especially, sexual intercourse; or to commit forceable sex on someone: The hotel maid said the man had raped her and locked her in the bathroom so he could get away before she revealed the criminal act.

According to the law, the marital status of the person who is raped is usually irrelevant; moreover, the crime is codified under various names, including first degree sexual assault, sexual battery, unlawful sexual intercourse, and first degree sexual abuse.

2. To plunder or to pillage: The Romans raped (sacked or plundered) many places during their years of conquering.
rapid (adjective), more rapid, most rapid
1. Pertaining to the action of something moving or happening with great speed and force: The rapid pace of the river challenged the kayakers during their journey down the river.
2. A reference to something taking place within a short time or quickly: With the heavy rainfall, the rapid growth of the forest was predictable.
3. Descriptive of moving or acting with great speed: Because of her rapid skills in sorting the tray of polished stones, the new worker, Janet, earned a bonus in her pay.
4. Characterized by speed: The rapid gesture of the swordsman distracted his opponent during the competition and that’s how Tom won the contest.
5. Etymology: rapid is traced back to 1634, from Latin rapidus, "hasty, snatching", from rapere, "hurry away, carry off, seize, plunder" (related to Greek ereptomai, "devour"; harpazein "snatch away").

Rapids is from 1765, from French rapides, applied by French voyagers to North American rivers.

Like "rape" and "rapture", rapid came ultimately from Latin rapere, "seize by force". From this was derived the adjective rapidus, which originally indicated "carrying off by force".

The notion of "swiftness" soon became incorporated into the meaning and although the Latin adjective retained its original connotations of "violence" (it suggested "impetuous speed" or "haste); by the time it reached English, it had simply become synonymous with "quick" or "fast".

—Based essentially on information from:
Dictionary of Word Origins by John Ayto, Arcade Publishing, New York, 1990.

Klein's Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language
by Dr. Ernest Klein; Elsevier Publishing Company; Amsterdam, Holland; 1967.
rapidity (s) (noun), rapidities (pl)
A fast state or quality; speediness; celerity: The rapidities of the tornadoes caught just about everyone off guard and no one was prepared for the destructive consequences.

The new student, Jennifer, amazed the teacher and the class with her rapidity in solving mental math calculations.

rapidly (adverb), more rapidly, most rapidly
1. A reference to fast movements: The rapidly advancing waves swept Ted's small boat towards the shore.
2. With great speed, celerity, or velocity; swiftly: The velocity of the winds was rapidly increasing the intensity of the hurricane.
3. With quick progression; such as, to run with great speed; to grow or to improve quickly: During the foot race, their team member, Toby, was observed rapidly gaining on the racer from the other school.
4. With fast utterance or talking: It was difficult to understand Mildred, the speaker, because she tended to speak too rapidly. Maybe she was too nervous.