rave

_rave_

Verb.

Pronunciation: reɪv.

Etymology: of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Old French raver [a variant of rêver =  to dream, be delirious, to rave, etc.]

Preterite tense: raved; preterite participle: raved.

Present participle: raving.

It is dated from the end of 1300.

Intransitively: 1. Obsolete: to be, or seem to be mad; to show symptom of madness.

2. Hence: to talk incoherently or furiously, in or as if in delirium.

Translation: parler comme un fou, in French; hablar como un loco, in Spanish; parlare come un matto, in Italian.

While the delirium was yet strong upon him, he spoke wildly of many things […]. Sometimes it was all clear and distinct, sometimes it was but murmuring confusion. At length, I think it was on the morning of the fourth terrible day, he raved more vehemently than ever, and his words were fierce and angry.

George James… A book of the passions

The patient raved in a manner that astonished as much as it alarmed his attendants.

Robert Williams… Maids of honour vol. 3

I raved aloud ! — smote my forehead ! — grasped my hair, as if I would tear it out by the roots ! — wept !— shrieked ! — dashed myself upon the ground !

 The New monthly magazine

-) With the preposition about + a noun, or a gerund, by which the subject is designated:

I kneeled beside him, and took one of his […] hands in mine. I kissed it, and suddenly he started up, exclaiming, "Olivia! Olivia!" with dreadful vehemence. In his delirium he raved about Olivia's stabbing herself, and called upon us to hold her arm, looking wildly towards the foot of the bed, as if the figure were actually before him.

Maria Edgeworth… Leonora

Napoleon, hearing this, became furious: He raved about punishing the rebellious city.

Walter Scott… Life of Napoleon

-) With the preposition of + a noun, by which the subject is designated:

She had recovered her consciousness, but under the burning pressure of fever, which [… affected] her mind with all the fancies of delirium. She raved of a thousand things incoherently, which perhaps none present could […] comprehend but the one individual who was engaged in conducting the operations.

William Simms… The Scout

Did you ever hear me repeat the name of Olivia?'

'Yes; when you were light-headed, I heard the name many a time and often. And the nurse said you raved of nobody else.

Thomas Holcroft… The Adventures of Hugh Trevor

-) With the preposition against, or at + noun of the person or the thing against which the raver speaks:

He raved in Greek against the invader.

Tobias Smollett… The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle

Sometimes he raved against Ralph and Ruth; and often against the girl with the vilest epithets.

Frederick Thomas… East and West

Philip could not bear to hear the weather abused and raved at, as though it were merely a controllable agency.

Margaret Warner

Heidegger hearing the change of music, ran to the music-gallery, stamped and raved at the musicians, accusing them of drunkenness, or of a design to ruin him, while the king and royal party laughed immoderately.

The Book of Days, vol. 2

-) With the preposition for + noun of the cause or the scope:

I leapt, and sung, and raved for joy.

The Scots Magazine, vol. 89

A burley bully of a caleche-driver insisted upon getting thirty francs for a “course” which he had made over night; and not having been able to obtain the offer of more than his legitimate fare, planted himself squarely before the panel of the diligence, manifesting serious intentions of blocking the Ambassador's way. All attempts to stir this fellow from his post by fair means were in vain. There he stood, and raved for the thirty francs; and when Jung Be- luidoor adianeed to get into the coach, the ruffian had the audacity to seize him by the collar of his gown.

The Living Age, vol. 27

3. Metaphor: (of a sea, storm, etc.) to move violently, as if in a furious manner.

It was as when a flood, that all day long has raved against the walls of your house, has ceased (you suddenly think) to rise.

Thomas De Quincey… Narrative and Miscellaneous Papers

 He would lie awake at night when the wind and snow raved over the land.

B. M. Bower… The Long Shadow

4. To talk loudly, rapturously, or with excessive praise; --with about, or of.

There is a good deal of nonsense afloat about the beauty of the Viennese women. I looked for it, but could not find it. I do not mean to say that there are no handsome women here, as I saw a goodly number of pretty faces, but they are not more numerous than in other cities. I have read about the great beauty of the women, and know several men who have raved about Vienna as the centre of the earth in this respect, but I cannot understand it.

Thomas Knox… The oriental world

Lesbia and Lady Kirkbank raved about the play they had just been seeing.

Elizabeth Braddon… Phantom Fortune

Madame Esmond raved about him and praised him in all her companies.

Kate Sweetser… Boys and girls from Thackeray

Transitively: to utter ravingly or loudly, as if in a frenzied manner.

"What's the matter, Mrs. Cross?"

 "Matter ?" raved Mrs. Cross. "She's a idle, impedent, wicked huzzy—that's what's the matter.

Henry Wood… Mrs. Halliburton’s Troubles

English words derived from RAVE: raver, raving, ravingly.