Reave (rēv), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reaved (rēvd), Reft (r&ebreve_;ft), or Raft (r&adot_;ft) (obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Reaving.] [AS. reáfian, from reáf spoil, plunder, clothing, reófan to break (cf. bireófan to deprive of); akin to G. rauben to rob, Icel. raufa to rob, rjūfa to break, violate, Goth. biráubōn to despoil, L. rumpere to break; cf. Skr. lup to break. √114. Cf. Bereave, Rob, v. t., Robe, Rove, v. i., Rupture.] To take away by violence or by stealth; to snatch away; to rob; to despoil; to bereave. [Archaic]. “To reave his life.” Spenser.
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He golden apples raft of the dragon. Chaucer.
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If the wooers reave
By privy stratagem my life at home. Chapman.
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To reave the orphan of his patrimony. Shak.
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The heathen caught and reft him of his tongue. Tennyson.
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