ravagementn.

1649 Moderate Intelligencer No. 223. 2115 The Lorrain forces are towards Liége, where th'Inhabitants have raised six hundred Horse, and three thousand Foot, to hinder their Ravagements.

1689 G. Harvey Art of curing Dis. by Expectation xiv. 108 He answer'd, he was so far from repenting of those Ravagements and Saccages done in Burgundy, that he was extreamly sorry, all the Land of the Duke of Burgundy was not in the same Estate.

1766 J. Entick Surv. London in New Hist. London IV. 286 Houses within the ravagement of the flames.

1788 W. Gordon Hist. Independence U.S.A. III. v. 182 The taxes cannot be very productive, by reason of the possession of part and ravagement of other parts of the country by the enemy.

1898 E. N. Westcott David Harum xii. 110 Mr. Elright's ravagement of the larder had resulted in a triangle of cadaverous apple pie,..some chunks of soft white cheese, and a plate of what are known as oyster crackers.

1917 Mansfield (Ohio) News 28 May 8/6 The saddest and the most ancient profession in the world had written its mark in cruel ravagement on the face which now bent pityingly over the mother's.

2006 Weekend Austral. (Nexis) 23 Dec. 7 Shakespeare..considered the idea of reuniting Lear with Cordelia and ending in tear-washed radiance, a reconciliation after ravagement and madness.