Word: ransack Part of Speech: verb Etymology: The verb is derived from Middle English ransaken (“to examine, investigate; to rob, plunder, steal; to search, seek; to treat roughly, mistreat”), from Old Norse rannsaka (“to search a house (especially for stolen goods)”), from rann (“house”) (from Proto-Germanic *razną (“dwelling, house”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁reh₁- (“to rest; quiet”)) + saka, an ablaut variant of sœkja, sǿkja (“to look for, search, seek”) (from Proto-Germanic *sōkijaną (“to look for, seek”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *seh₂g- (“to follow; to seek out, trace”)). Verb senses 1.2 (“to search (someone, or a place) thoroughly in order to steal something”), 1.3 (“to search for and steal (something) as plunder”), and 2.2 (“to search for and steal things”) are probably influenced by sack (“to pillage, to plunder”). The noun is derived from the verb. cognates * Middle Low German rānsāken, rantsāken * Old Danish randsage, ransage (modern Danish ransage) * Old Swedish ransaka (modern Swedish rannsaka) Pronunciation: /ˈɹænsæk/, /ˈɹænˌsæk/ 1. To search (a place, through things, etc.) thoroughly, especially when vigorous and leaving behind a state of disarray. Labels: transitive Example: What a ſorowe hath it been to ſome of vs when the deuils hath in deſpightfull mockage, caſt in our teeth our olde loue borne to our money, and then ſhewed vs our executours as buſily ryfling ⁊ ranſaking our houſes as though they wer men of warre that had taken a towne by force. Example: He hath ranſaked all the chyſtes I haue for his beades: […] 2. To search (someone or a place) thoroughly in order to steal something, especially when vigorous and leaving behind a state of disarray; hence, to rob (someone or a place); to plunder. Labels: transitive Example: to ransack a house for valuables Example: If they thought howe ſoone in what painefull plight they ſhall lye a dying, while theyr executours afore their face ranſake vp theyr ſackes, they woulde I wene ſhortly empty theyr ſackes themſelues. 3. To search for and steal (something) as plunder. Labels: transitive Example: VVith greedy force he gan the fort aſſayle, / VVhereof he vveend poſſeſſe ſoone to bee, / And vvin rich ſpoile of ranſackt chaſtitee. 4. To examine (someone or something) carefully; to investigate; also, to question (someone) thoroughly; to interrogate. Labels: archaic, figuratively, transitive Example: […] I purpoſe not in any open engliſh booke to ranſake and rebuke eyther the tone [the one] lawe, or the tother: I ſhall let him with that matter alone. Example: And like an angry Judge reſolved to condemn, thou ranſackeſt all my life, and paſſeſt an heavie ſentence upon me for ſinnes long ſince committed,[…]. 5. To look for or seek out (someone). Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: I'le call ye to Accompt, and if ye bauke me, then / I ranſake ye out, and make ye underſtand / The ſharp-nail'd language of Quiſquilla's hand. 6. To search (someone) for a thing. Labels: obsolete, transitive 7. Synonym of penetrate (“to make way into the interior of (something); to pierce”); also, synonym of pervade (“to enter and spread through (something); to permeate”). Labels: figuratively, obsolete, transitive Example: [D]epe wͭ dynt the ſword enforced furſt / had ranſakt through his ribs ⁊ ſwete whyte breſt at once had burſt. Example: [H]e vvas forſt at laſt, / To yield himſelfe vnto the mightie ill: / VVhich as a victour proud, gan ranſack faſt / His invvard partes, and all his entrayles vvaſt, […] 8. To search thoroughly, especially when leaving behind a state of disarray. Labels: intransitive Example: Then euery chriſtian ſought amongſt vs for his frende, / His kinſman or companion ſome ſuccour them to lende: / And as they ranſackte ſo, lo God his will it was, / A noble wyſe Venetian by me did chaunce to paſſe: […] Example: [W]e rive / Our Mother Earth; and, not contented vvith / Th' abundant gifts ſhe outvvard offereth, / VVith ſacrilegious Tools vve rudely rend her, / And ranſak deeply in her boſom tender, / VVhile vnder ground vvee live in hourly fear / VVhen the frail Mines ſhall over-vvhelm vs there: […] 9. To search for and steal things. Labels: archaic, intransitive