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ransack

ran·sack [ rán sàk ] (past and past participle ran·sacked, present participle ran·sack·ing, 3rd person present singular ran·sacks)


transitive verb 
Definition:
 
1. rob and despoil something: to go through a place stealing some things and usually destroying or spoiling everything else

2. search something very thoroughly: to search something very thoroughly but handling things carelessly
I ransacked the drawers but couldn't find my keys.

[13th century. < Old Norse rannsaka< rann "house" + -saka "search"]

ran·sack·er noun
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