ransacking

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ran·sack

(răn′săk′)

tr.v. ran·sacked, ran·sack·ing, ran·sacks

1. To search through (something) thoroughly and often roughly: ransacked the drawer looking for my keys.

2. To go through (a place) stealing valuables and causing disarray; pillage: ransacked the village.

[Middle English ransaken, from Old Norse rannsaka : rann, house + *saka, to search, seek; see sāg- in Indo-European roots.]

ran′sack′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ransacking

(ˈrænsækɪŋ)

the action of ransacking a place

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

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Noun

ransacking - a thorough search for something (often causing disorder or confusion); "he gave the attic a good rummage but couldn't find his skis"

rummage

search, hunting, hunt - the activity of looking thoroughly in order to find something or someone

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References in classic literature ?

Legree now turned to Tom's trunk, which, previous to this, he had been ransacking, and, taking from it a pair of old pantaloons and dilapidated coat, which Tom had been wont to put on about his stable-work, he said, liberating Tom's hands from the handcuffs, and pointing to a recess in among the boxes,

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I spent it in ransacking the library until I discovered a medical book which gave a description of strychnine poisoning.

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In Jerusalem, PPS confirmed that Israeli police rounded up a Palestinian minor after ransacking his family's house in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Batn al-Hawa.

Two minors among 21 detained from West Bank

The Hindu rioters were resorted to arson and ransacking of the property of Muslims.

Hindutva rioters ransacked property of Muslims in Poonch

LAHORE -- An anti-terrorism court on Monday extended judicial remand of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi and five others in provocative speeches and ransacking case, till February 8.

Khadim Rizvi, other TLP leaders's remand extended till Feb 8

GILGIT -- The Gilgit-Baltistan Anti-Terrorism Court on Friday sent on judicial remand 10 traders, including Pakistan Peoples Party lawmaker Javed Hussain, for ransacking the Sost dry port.

10 traders jailed for ransacking Sost dry port

KARACHI -- The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed its serious concern over the ransacking of human rights activist Marvi Sirmed's home in Islamabad.

HRCP slams ransacking of Marvi's home

Summary: Lahore [Pakistan] June 23(ANI): The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Saturday expressed its concern over the ransacking of human rights activist Marvi Sirmed's home in Islamabad.

Constant bullying of activists unacceptable: HRCP

They also threatened a teenage girl before ransacking the home and making off with jewellery.

'Irish' gang in terrifying raid on home

Police also failed to stop the protesters from ransacking the local government hospital.

Normalcy returns to Kasur after violent protests over Zainab's murder, rape

The Israeli forces detained three Palestinian brothers after storming and ransacking their family home in al-Doha town, West of Bethlehem in the southern West Bank, WAFA reported.

Israeli Forces Detain Six Palestinians, Ransack Homes in West Bank Raids

Iranian courts have tried 45 men for the January attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran, clearing all 45 of the main charge of storming and ransacking the embassy, but sentencing an unannounced number to three to six months in jail for disorderly conduct.