| ransack | 1. To search thoroughly; to search every place or part of; as, to ransack a house. "To ransack every corner of their . . . Hearts." (South) 2. To plunder; to pillage completely. "Their vow is made To ransack Troy." (Shak) 3. To violate; to ravish; to defiour. "Rich spoil of ransacked chastity." (Spenser) Origin: OE. Ransaken, Icel, rannsaka to explore, examine; rann a house (akin to Goth. Razn house, AS. Raesn plank, beam) + the root of saekja to seek, akin to E. Seek. See Seek, and cf. Rest repose. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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