reave

1
[ reev ]
See synonyms for: reavereft on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),reaved or reft, reav·ing.Archaic.
  1. to take away by or as by force; plunder; rob.

Origin of reave

1
before 900; Middle English reven,Old English rēafian; cognate with German rauben,Dutch roven to rob

Words Nearby reave

Other definitions for reave (2 of 2)

reave2
[ reev ]

verb (used with or without object),reaved or reft, reav·ing.
  1. Archaic. to rend; break; tear.

Origin of reave

2
1175–1225; Middle English; apparently special use of reave1 (by association with rive)

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How to use reave in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for reave (1 of 2)

reave1

/ (riːv) /


verbreaves, reaving, reaved or reft (rɛft) archaic
  1. to carry off (property, prisoners, etc) by force

  2. (tr foll by of) to deprive; strip: See also reive

Origin of reave

1
Old English reāfian; related to Old High German roubōn to rob, Old Norse raufa to break open

British Dictionary definitions for reave (2 of 2)

reave2

/ (riːv) /


verbreaves, reaving, reaved or reft (rɛft)
  1. archaic to break or tear (something) apart; cleave

Origin of reave

2
C13 reven, probably from reave 1 and influenced in meaning by rive

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