late 15c., "delirious, frenzied," present-participle adjective from rave (v.); sense of "remarkable, fit to excite admiration" is from 1841, hence slang superlative use.
the raving of maniacs
raving mad
raven
ravening
ravenous
raver
ravine
raving
ravioli
ravish
ravishing
ravishment
raw