Legal Definitions - rapine

Definition: Rapine (rap-in) refers to the act of forcefully taking and carrying away someone else's property, often through pillage or plunder. It can also refer to the archaic term for rape.

• The invading army engaged in rapine, looting and destroying everything in their path.
• The pirates were known for their rapine of merchant ships, stealing valuable cargo and taking hostages.
• In literature, there are many examples of rapine, such as the pillaging of villages in Viking sagas or the looting of treasure in adventure novels.

These examples illustrate how rapine involves the use of force to take something that belongs to someone else. It often involves violence and destruction, and can have serious consequences for the victims. The term can also be used in a broader sense to refer to any kind of theft or robbery, but it typically implies a more violent and aggressive form of taking property.