rape [LME] This originally referred to the violent seizure of property, and later to the carrying off of a woman by force. It comes via Anglo-Norman French from Latin rapere ‘seize’, also the source of the words rapacious [L16th], rapid [E17th], rapt [LME] and rapture [L16th], when you are carried away by your feelings. In Old French repere was changed to ravir, source of ravish [ME]. The plant name, rape [LME], originally referred to the turnip. It is from Latin rapum, rapa ‘turnip’.