havoc
To pillageTo pillage.
» Vandals wreaked havoc in the abandoned house.
Вандалы устроили погром в заброшенном доме.
Вандали вчинили погром у покинутому будинку.
Meaning
2 sensesTo pillage.
To cause havoc.
Examples
23 sentencesVandals wreaked havoc in the abandoned house.
Вандали вчинили погром у покинутому будинку.
ruВандалы устроили погром в заброшенном доме.
The children wreaked havoc in the house.
Діти вчинили гармидер удома.
The drunken sailors wrecked havoc inside the bar.
П'яні моряки вчинили розгром у барі.
ruПьяные моряки учинили разгром в баре.
deDie betrunkenen Matrosen verwüsteten die Kneipe.
The golem wreaked havoc on the village.
I will play havoc with your house.
Origin
From Middle English havok, havyk, from Old French havok in the phrase crier havok (“cry haFrom Middle English havok, havyk, from Old French havok in the phrase crier havok (“cry havoc”) a signal to soldiers to seize plunder, from Old French crier (“cry out, shout”) + havot (“pillaging, looting”), of obscure origin. Probably from a derivative of Old French *haf, hef (“hook”), from Frankish *haf, *habbjā, *happjā (“pruning-hook, scythe”), derived from Proto-Germanic *habjaną (“to take up, lift”), related to Old French havee (“handful”), Old French havet (“pruning-hook”), Old High German habba, heppa (“pruning-hook, scythe”), modern German Hippe (“billhook”). If so, then also related to English heave and doublet of hatchet.
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Forms
havocs, havocking, havocked, havockedLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, irregular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle