Etymology: < classical Latin raptus (see raptus n.). Compare Anglo-Norman and Middle French rap, Middle French, French rapt abduction, kidnapping (second half of the 12th cent. in Old French; in Anglo-Norman also in sense ‘violent robbery’ (late 13th cent. or earlier)).In sense 2b after classical Latin rapta, use as noun of feminine of raptus , past participle of rapere to seize (see rape v.²).

Etymology: < classical Latin raptus, past participle of rapere to seize (see rape v.²), in post-classical Latin in sense ‘rapt in an ecstasy’ (from 12th cent. in British sources).In Branch I. employed as a past participle passive in parallel with Latin uses, leading to the use of the form as past participle active and as past tense, from which in turn a stem rap was inferred to supply an infinitive and present (see rap v.⁴); in a contemporary alternative development, the word was converted into a verb unchanged (see rapt v.). In sense 1 frequently with reference to 2 Corinthians 12:2 (Vulgate raptum..usque ad tertium caelum ; compare e.g. quot. 1788), and 2 Corinthians 12:4 (Vulgate raptus est in paradisum ; compare e.g. quot. c1390). In rapt motion (also rapt moving : see sense 8) after post-classical Latin motus raptus (c1550 or earlier in British sources; 1551 in a Spanish context in the passage translated in quot. 1561 at sense 8).

Etymology: < rapt adj. Compare slightly earlier rapted adj. Compare also earlier rap v.⁴, rape v.²